title: C1q solid-phase enzymatic microassay for detection of circulating immune complexes: its application in human breast cancer.
abstract: Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were detected and quantitated in human breast cancer to monitor the efficiency of mastectomy. For this aim a microimmunoenzymatic test was set up, applying a solid-phase C1q. Features of this assay can be summarized as follows: ability to estimate as low as 10 ng of aggregated human IgG (delta IgG), good reproducibility and simplicity of execution, and small serum sample required. A group of women with breast cancer at different stages (TNM classification) was tested for CIC, and 31.75% were positive. Almost all patients submitted to surgery showed a reduction of this parameter thereafter. A parallel study was carried out in another group of women with benign breast disease, and a significant incidence of CIC was found.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D003172:Complement C1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003172:Complement C1