New aspects in the prediction of hormone sensitivity. A review

In this review some basic problems of steroid receptor mechanism are discussed. It can be stated now that the steroid receptor is bound to cellular structures. Most of the oestradiol receptor has been shown to be localized in particulate fractions and only the minor part is demonstrable in the cytosol. The most important step in receptor preparation from human breast tumour tissue is the homogenization procedure. During the homogenization and fractionation process proteolytic enzyme become activated. More reliable results in receptor determination may be obtained using specific antibodies against oestradiol binding protein.