title: Demonstration of mucinous-like carcinoma-associated antigen in bone marrow and lymph node biopsies from patients with breast carcinoma.
abstract: Two hundred and fifty bone marrow and 140 lymph nodal biopsies were analyzed immunocytochemically, using a mouse monoclonal antibody b-12 (M Ab b-12), which reacts with MCA (mucinous-like carcinoma-associated antigen). The presence of MCA in bone marrow specimens was demonstrated in 102 out of 105 (97.1%) breast cancer metastases, 5 out of 8 (62.5%) gastric cancers, 5 out of 6 (83.3%) colon cancers, 3 out of 5 (60%) prostate cancers, 11 out of 26 (42.3%) lung cancers and 25 out of 30 (83.3%) unknown primary cancers, while no positivity to anti-MCA antibody was found in 30 cases of normal bone marrow biopsies, 5 cases of non epithelial malignancies and 30 cases of hemolymphoproliferative disease. Normal lymph nodes and non-epithelial lymph node metastases did not show any reaction to M Ab b-12; on the contrary MCA positive staining was observed in 75 out of 75 (100%) lymph nodal metastases in breast cancer. These results suggest that application of M Ab b-12 in immunohistochemistry is valid for the detection of bone marrow and lymph nodal micrometastases of epithelial origin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Parma School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saccani Jotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fontanesi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardini
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C057387:mucinous carcinoma-associated antigen