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Specific quantitative techniques have been used to measure the cytoplasmic estradiol-binding protein (EBP) in human mammary carcinoma tissue specimens. Sucrose gradient centrifugation reveals EBP to sediment at 8S and 4S. Variable quantities of non-specific estradiol binding occurs in the 4S region of the sucrose gradient necessitating controls to insure specificity of the estradiol protein interaction. Using dextran-coated charcoal to separate bound from free estradiol Scatchard analysis finds the dissociation constant of the estradiol EBP interaction to be approximately 2.6x10(-10) M, indicative of the very high affinity of the ligand for the EBP. Quantitation of EBP sites in 64 primary and metastatic human breast tumors demonstrates a continuous spectrum of values from 0 to 612 fmol per mg of cytoplasmic protein. Specific 8S binding in the sucrose gradient centrifugation was not detected in specimens containing less than 9.0 fmol EBP per mg cytoplasmic protein. Since data from animal breast tumors and preliminary evidence from human breast tumors indicates an excellent correlation between the presence of abundant tumor EBP and endocrine-induced breast cancer regressions, precise quantitation of EBP in all human primary tumors may prove to be an excellent prognosticator of endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer.

This paper summarizes the results of the fourth part of a comprehensive programme undertaken by the WHO International Reference Centre for Enteroviruses and other laboratories for the testing of enterovirus equine antisera prepared for long-term use as reference antisera. The studies were designed to appraise the specificity of the immune serum of horses inoculated with prototype enteroviruses (coxsackievirus types A2, 4, 8, 10, 11, 14-16, 18-21, and 24, and echoviruses E21, 27, 30, 31, and 33). Tests for neutralizing antibody were performed against the homologous viruses and against available regional homotypic strains. Heterotypic tests were performed against reoviruses 1-3, adenoviruses 1-31, and the entire series of enteroviruses (with the exception of enterovirus 68). The homologous geometric mean titre of the 5 echovirus antisera ranged from 3 000 to 10 000; the titre of 1 coxsackievirus antiserum (A24) was only about 400, but the titres of the others ranged from 1 500 to 14 000. All corresponding preinoculation sera were negative. Heterotypic antibody of significant titre was found in 4 antisera: E31 serum against E5 virus, CA8 serum against CA3 virus, CA13 serum against CA18 virus, and CA15 serum against CA2 virus. Information on other heterotypic antibody titres (where found) is recorded for guidance in the use of the sera. The results of homotypic tests with viruses isolated by the collaborating laboratories, though limited in number, were satisfactory.