Electrophoretic assay of specific estrogen receptors: a contribution to methodology

Experimental evidence is presented that supports the use of the cold agar-gel electrophoretic method for the clinical quantitation of specific estrogen-binding protein present in some human mammary carcinomas. It is necessary to dilute tumor extracts to avoid interference by serum-borne, non-relevant hormone-binding proteins such as albumin, which migrates to the same anodal region as does the binding protein. Dilution to 2.5 mg or less of total protein per milliliter circumvents such interference while still permitting reliable quantitation of the binding protein. Seventy-two mammary carcinomas were compared for binding-protein content by both the cold agar-gel electrophoresis and a single-point dextran-coated charcoal assay. The correlation coefficient (0.96) indicated excellent agreement between results by the two methods. In addition results are presented which indicate that the preparation of tumor extracts for electrophoresis does not require the use of an ultracentrifuge.