Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Estrogen receptor in human breast cancer tissue is markedly labile under the conditions usually employed for assay. Significant increases in assay sensitivity can be achieved with the use of thiol reagents (dithiothreitol) at low temperatures. These modifications may be important in preventing misclassification of a patient's tumor as being potentially autonomous with regard to endocrine therapy.
McGuire et al. (1973) studied this question.