[Immunohistochemical studies with monoclonal antibodies in human mammary carcinoma tissues]

In an immunohistochemical investigation 27 mammary carcinoma tissues were tested with a panel of monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratins, blood group-related and carcinoembryonic antigens. The monoclonal antibody A45-B/B3 directed against a broad range of cytokeratins reacted with all carcinoma tissues tested and was also useful for the detection of metastasis in axillary Lymph nodes of mammary carcinoma patients. The expression of blood group-related substances in tumor cells was different, but without relation to the donor's red blood cell phenotype. In our study the detection of CEA was restricted to malignant breast tumors and was present in two thirds of them.