Development of polyclonal antibody against polyestradiol and its practical use in detection of estrogen receptors in situ.

Polymerization of 17 beta-estradiol was performed. The final product with molecular weight of about 30,000 was used as antigen to immunization of mice CBA x C 57 B1 10/F1. The obtained antiserum was tested for the presence of antibodies to polyestradiol. It was applied to immunohistochemical detection of free estrogen receptors in breast carcinoma samples fixed with formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. The advantages and disadvantages of this method and other perspectives of its application to routine examination of estrogen receptors for clinical practice are discussed.