This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Garcia, M. Articles by Rochefort, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Garcia, M. Articles by Rochefort, H.

Distribution of the M_r 52,000 Estrogen-regulated Protein in Benign Breast Diseases and Other Tissues by Immunohistochemistry¹

Unité d'Endocrinologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, U 148, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, 60, Rue de Navacelles, 34100 Montpellier [M. G., G. S-R., G. C., H. R.]; Laboratorie d'Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Médico-Chirurgical Gui-de-Chauliac, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 2, Avenue Bertin Sans, 34059 Montpellier Cédex [A. P., A. M. P.]; Centre de Recherche Clin-Midy/Sanofi, Immunologie, Rue du Professeur Joseph Blayac, 34082 Montpellier Cédex [G. R., B. P.]; Centre Paul Lamarque, 2, Avenue Bertin Sans—BP 5054, 34033 Montpellier Cédex [J. D., H. P.]; Département d'Imagerie Médicale, Hôpital Lapeyronie, 555, Route de Ganges, 34059 Montpellier Cédex [J. M. M., J-L. L.]; and Laboratoire de Biochimie Cellulaire, Faculté de Médecine, 2, Rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, 34060 Montpellier Cédex [G. C., H. R.], France

A secreted glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 52,000 is induced by estrogen in breast cancer cells and has been purified to prepare monoclonal antibodies. The protein has been detected in some breast cancers but not in normal breast and uterus. In order to study its potential value as a marker, we have tested by immunohistochemistry frozen sections of several normal and malignant tissues and of benign mastopathies. Among different tissues tested, the M_r 52,000 protein was detected only in liver, sweat glands, and some sebaceous glands, and in malignant melanomas and some breast tumors. Other estrogen-responsive tissues (ovary, placenta, endometrium, etc.) gave negative results.

Immunoradiometric assay of the M_r 52,000 protein in biological fluid revealed an elevated concentration in cyst fluid (0.5 to 7.4 µg/ml), pleural effusions of certain metastatic breast cancer, and sweat.

By immunohistochemistry, the M_r 52,000 antigen was also detected in 42% of 129 benign mastopathies. Gynecomastia, fibrous disease, fibroadenoma, and adenosis were mainly negative, whereas ductal hyperplasia and cysts were positive. The M_r 52,000 protein was found mostly in proliferative ducts and in cysts but not in lobular hyperplasia and nonproliferative lesions without cyst. More M_r 52,000 protein was found in postmenopausal patients than in premenopausal patients.

We conclude that the M_r 52,000 protein is a marker associated with mammary cysts and proliferative ducts. On the basis of the increased risk of breast cancer in proliferative mastopathies, we suggest that the M_r 52,000 protein is use ful for predicting high-risk mastopathies acting as a marker associated with the proliferation of ductal tissue.

¹ Preliminary results have been reported at the International Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Berlin, Germany, September 15–20, 1985), at the International Symposium on Monoclonal Antibodies (Florence, Italy, October 2–4, 1985), and in Ref. 1. This work was supported by INSERM-SANOFI Contract 81039, the Faculté de Médecine Montpellier, and the Ligne Nationale de Lutte contre le Cancer.

Received 12/ 4/85. Revised 3/13/86. Accepted 3/17/86.