The presence and significance of the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen in mammary gland

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Abstract
Normal tissue as well as various benign and malignant lesions of the breast were histochemically examined for the presence of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF)-antigen. Fluorescein- or 3H-labelled peanut agglutinin was used for this purpose, a lectin that is known to have a high affinity for the TF-antigen. The occurrence of this TF-antigen seemed in all cases, even in the carcinoma lobulare in situ that is regarded as being derived from myoepithelial cells by some authors, to be associated with a secretory condition. Its presence (free and neuraminicacid covered) in normal, hyperplastic and malignant breast tissue, however, cannot be considered a specific tumour associated antigen as has been previously assumed. Furthermore the investigations have shown that the intensity of fluorescence for peanut agglutinin (PNA)-receptors was generally stronger in differentiated carcinomas than in undifferentiated carcinomas of the breast. The histochemical findings are discussed with regard to diagnostical and immunotherapeutical aspects.