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Histamine in human breast cancer
J L Reynolds1, J A Akhter, C J Magarey
1Department of Surgery, University of New South Wales, St George Hospital, Kogarah, Australia.
The British Journal of Surgery
|June 2, 1998
Summary
Breast cancer tissue contains high histamine concentrations, sufficient to suppress immune cell function. This finding suggests histamine may play a role in the local tumor immune microenvironment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Histamine is known to inhibit lymphocyte function in vitro at concentrations exceeding 10(-6) mol/l.
- Investigating histamine's role in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for understanding cancer immunology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if histamine levels in breast cancer tissue are high enough to cause an immunological effect.
- To assess the potential local immunosuppressive impact of histamine within breast tumors.
Main Methods:
- Radioenzymatic assay was used to quantify histamine content.
- Measurements were performed on tumor tissue and adjacent normal breast tissue from 29 breast cancer patients.
Main Results:
- Median histamine concentration in breast cancer tissue was 4.5 x 10(-5) mol/l, significantly higher than in normal breast tissue (P = 0.007).
- Histamine levels in tumors ranged from 0.9-27.3 microg/g, with a median of 5.4 microg/g.
Conclusions:
- The concentration of histamine found in breast cancer tissue is sufficient to inhibit lymphocyte function.
- Elevated histamine levels in breast cancer may contribute to local immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment.