Evaluation of a novel anti-mucin 1 (MUC1) antibody (PankoMab) as a potential diagnostic tool in human ductal breast cancer; comparison with two established antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
PankoMab is a novel antibody that recognizes a tumor-specific epitope of Mucin 1 (MUC1). The aim of this study was the evaluation of PankoMab as a potential diagnostic tool and its comparison with two established antibodies against MUC1 in human ductal breast cancer.


METHODS
Breast carcinomas were obtained from 82 patients. MUC1 expression and hormone receptor status were determined by immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded material.


RESULTS
PankoMab revealed strong correlation to hormone receptor expression. DF3 showed no correlation with grading, lymph node involvement and/or estrogen receptor (ER) expression. In the subgroup of lymph node-positive and ER-negative tumors, we saw a significantly reduced DF3 staining in G3 tumors compared to G2 tumors. VU-4-H5 showed increased staining intensity in correlation with increased grading. In addition, we also identified a significantly higher expression of the VU-4-H5 epitope in lymph node-positive carcinomas compared to carcinomas without lymph node involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
PankoMab revealed strong correlation to hormone receptor expression in ductal carcinoma of the breast. VU-4-H5 showed increased staining intensity in correlation with increased grading and lymph node involvement. PankoMab and VU-4-H5 staining could be a useful combination in ductal breast cancer prognosis by immunohistochemistry.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Frauenklinik, Maistrasse 11, Munich, Germany. darius.dian@med.uni-muenchen.de
Darius
D
Dian
Wolfgang
W
Janni
Christina
C
Kuhn
Doris
D
Mayr
Uwe
U
Karsten
Ioannis
I
Mylonas
Klaus
K
Friese
Udo
U
Jeschke
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D018396:Mucin-1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins