Monoclonal antibodies specific for phosphorylated estrogen receptor alpha (Ser118) and uses thereof

摘要

The invention provides monoclonal antibodies that bind the estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) when phosphorylated at serine 118 (Ser118) in the N-terminal domain, but do not bind to ER alpha when not phosphorylated at this site. Also provided are methods for determining the phosphorylation of ER alpha in a biological sample, profiling ER alpha activation in a test tissue, and identifying a compound that modulates phosphorylation of ER alpha in a test tissue, by using the disclosed monoclonal antibodies. The sample or test tissue may be taken from a subject suspected of having cancer, such as breast cancer. Kits comprising the phospho-ER alpha (Ser118) monoclonal antibodies of the invention are also provided.