ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the localization of progesterone receptor, the employment of monoclonal antiestrophilin antibodies and compared with fluorescent histochemistry. It explains a more analytical approach using computer-assisted microfluorometry with interesting results. The book examines the application of the techniques in experimental situations and their potential usefulness in a clinical laboratory. Several groups from different countries report on their experience with the application of the methods to the study of cancerous tissue in both breast and prostate. Their results indicate that histochemical assays may be useful as either a supplementary or alternative method to biochemistry for the identification of hormone responsive neoplasms. The classical morphologic approach to localize steroid binding cells is to inject radiolabeled hormones into animals and trace the target cells in endocrine responsive tissue in order to visualize the concentrated radioactive hormone.
