COMPARISON OF RADIOLIGAND ASSAY AND IMMUNOSTAINING FOR EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN HUMAN BREAST-CANCER

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor status is a useful prognostic i ndicator in women with breast cancer. Lack of standardization and corr elation of methodology for the detection of EGF receptor has hampered its further evaluation. EGF receptor status was ascertained by immunoh istochemistry and radioligand assay in 120 breast cancers. Of 52 tumou rs negative for EGF receptor on radioligand assay, 47 were negative on immunohistochemistry and, of 68 tumours positive for the receptor on assay, 52 were positive on immunohistochemistry. If the more widely ev aluated radioligand assay is assumed to be the 'gold standard', immuno histochemistry has a sensitivity of 81 per cent and a specificity of 9 1 per cent.