Recommendations for the immunohistochemical evaluation of hormone receptors on paraffin sections of breast carcinomas. Update 1999

These recommendations address the immunohistochemical evaluation of estroge n and progesterone receptors in paraffin sections of breast cancers. All th e components of the procedure are dealt with : indications, sampling, fixat ion and processing, section adhesion, antigen retrieval, antibodies, contro ls, analysis and interpretation of immunostaining, report and quality assur ance parameters. The purpose of these guidelines is to settle as a basis fo r standardization of technic and results and to improve quality control.