Hormonal sensitivity of human breast tumors in vitro: pentose-shunt activity

Recent studies indicated that response to endocrine therapy might be predicted in human breast carcinomas using the sensitivity of the pentose-shunt pathway to hormones in organ culture. Thirty breast tumors were examined using this histochemical method, and three independent assessments were made. There was poor agreement between the observers, and we consider that this test is not reproducible in its present form.