Abstract
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the cytological and histological localization of antigen CA 15-3 by using novel monoclonal antibodies, 115 D 8 and DF 3 in the proliferative epithelial cells of benign and malignant human breast lesions.
The preparations of a total of 12 cases which included the cytological and histological specimens consisted of 5 cases of benign lesions and 7 cases of breast cancers.
For a comparative study, tissue specimens of 19 cases from extramammary lesions (stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, lung, etc) and cytologic imprinted smears of 10 cases from extramammary lesions were added to this study.
Immunoperoxidase staining of cytological specimens and paraffin embedded tissue sections were stained with 115 D 8, DF 3, and respective antibodies of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA).
The results were as follows:
1) The antigens of 115 D 8, DF 3 (MAM-6, DF 3-antigen) and EMA were found in all cases of breast lesions, but these antigens were localized in the apical surfaces of the benign breast lesions. In malignant breast lesions, these three antigens were localized in the cytoplasm of the carcinoma cells. These antigens may serve as useful markers in the separation of each benign breast lesion and breast carcinomas because of the localization pattern in these proliferative epithelial cells. The same conclusion may be applied to the tissue specimens.
2) In extramammary lesions: MAM-6, DF 3-antigen, EMA were considered inappropriate as helpful diagnostic markers, because of low positive rate and the absence of clear difference in localization between benign and malignant lesions on both cytologic and tissue specimens.
