Demonstration of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in breast carcinoma using an immunohistochemical method: morpho-functional evaluations and diagnostic uses
Lanzafame, S.; Puzzo, L.; Bartoloni, G.
Pathologica 77(1050): 373-384
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-2983 PMID: 3010221 Document Number: 262526
The authors studied carcinoembryonic antigen using a immunohistochemical method (.beta.-galactosidase) in 71 cases of breast cancer, 15 cases of lymph-nodal metastases and 22 cases of benign mammary disease. CEA was present in 56.3% of the primary carcinomas. It concerned the intraductal aspects in 88% and the lymph-nodal metastases in 69%. Rabbit serum anti-human CEA was not specific for carcinomas. In fact, a faint apical positivity was displayed by the epithelial cells of some normal mammary lobules or atypical lobules of microcystic type (ALA). There was a high percentage of positivity in periductal mastitis (80%) where large amounts of CEA were present not only in the necrotic areas and macrophagic cells, but in the epitheliosis, apices and sometimes the cytoplasm as well. The cytoplasmic presence of CEA is a probable sign of cell indifferentiation and is a valid parameter in diagnosing early malignant evolution. In lymph-nodal stations CEA revealed micrometastases or solitary neoplastic epithelial cells which cannot be shown up using routine histological methods. During the follow-up of patients treated for breast carcinoma, the study of plasma CEA levels is very useful in revealing early metastasis or recurrence.