ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR DETECTION IN PARAFFIN SECTIONS OF ADENOCARCINOMA OFTHE COLON, PANCREAS, AND LUNG

We performed a retrospective analysis for the presence of estrogen rec eptors (ERs) in known cases of adenocarcinoma of the colon, pancreas, and lung. Estrogen receptor status was determined by immunohistochemic al methods using the ERICA (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, III) a ntibody on paraffin sections. None of 43 colon and 18 pancreatic adeno carcinomas demonstrated ERs by this method. Three of 42 lung adenocarc inomas exhibited some degree of nuclear staining for ERs. When evaluat ing an adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site, the ER-ICA antibody can be useful when included in a panel of antibodies. Positive results te nd to exclude colonic or pancreatic, but not pulmonary, primary sites.