Use of human mammary epithelial antigens (HME-Ags) in breast cancer diagnosis.
The use of human mammary epithelial antigens (HME-Ags) was explored in detection of human breast cancers. Specific antibodies were made against HME-Ags, which are normal differentiation antigens of human breast epithelium, and were used in a solid phase radioimmunoassay. Circulating HME-Ags were detected in sera of breast cancer patients with high-tumor load. These antibodies, after radioiodination, were also successfully used to localize human breast tumors grafted in athymic nude mice by whole body radioimaging devices. These results suggest that HME-Ags can be applied to breast cancer diagnosis with higher specificity than those already reported.
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D001940:Breast / Q000276:immunology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation
D000941:Antigens; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen