Table 1

Pooling design for ER-positive versus ER-negative cryogenic whole tumor sections
Experimental variable designation
 Pools
 Tumor number
 RNA quality
 Tumor status
 Lymph node status
 Grade
 ER status
 PR status
 Her2/neu status
 Age of patient (years)
ER positive
T378
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 12
 4
 0
 75

ER+1


T392
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 12
 2
 2a
 61



T460
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 4
 8
 3
 79

ER+2


T464
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 12
 8
 0
 50



T288
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 12
 4
 1
 76

ER+3


T711
 ok
 4
 2
 3
 8
 6
 0
 65



T712
 ok
 2
 1
 2
 9
 4
 0
 58

ER+4


T425
 ok
 2
 1
 2
 12
 0
 0
 78
ER negative
T433
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 0
 0
 1
 42

ER-1


T443
 ok
 2
 1
 2
 0
 12
 0
 46



T469
 ok
 1
 0
 2–3
 0
 0
 3
 50

ER-2


T470
 ok
 2
 1
 2
 0
 0
 0
 39



T531
 ok
 2
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 58

ER-3


T558
 ok
 2
 0
 2–3
 0
 0
 0
 62



T623
 ok
 1
 x
 2–3
 0
 0
 1
 42

ER-4


T640
 ok
 2
 0
 3
 0
 0
 3
 62

Individual tumors are designated by their tumor bank T registration numbers. Experimental, clinical, and histopathological parameters are listed. Eight ER-positive and eight ER-negative tumors are grouped into four pools of two tumors each, as indicated. Clinical data comprise the following: tumor status ranging from pT1 (tumor 2 cm or smaller in greatest dimension) to pT3 (tumor >5 cm); lymph node status from pN0 (no regional lymph node metastasis) to pN3 (metastasis to ipsilateral internal mammary lymph nodes [s]) and pNx (regional lymph node cannot be assessed); tumor grade from 2 (moderately differentiated) to 3 (poorly differentiated); histopathologic data for ER and PR (0 = undetectable; 1 to 3 = weakly positive; 4 to 7 = moderately positive; 8–12 = highly positive); and Her2/neu-status (0 = negative, positive +1 to +3). Ages for each patient are given in years. aNo gene amplification detected. x, pNx regional lymphnodes cannot be assessed. ER, estrogen receptor; HER, human epidermal growth factor receptor; PR, progesterone receptor.

Neubauer et al. Breast Cancer Research 2008 10:R85   doi:10.1186/bcr2155

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