Histamine in human breast cancer

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Abstract
Background: Histamine inhibits lymphocyte function in vitro at concentrations of greater than 10−6 mol/l. The aim of this study was to determine whether histamine concentrations in breast cancers were sufficient to produce an immunological effect. Methods: Tumour and adjacent normal breast content of histamine was measured using a radioenzymatic assay in 29 patients having surgery for breast cancer. Results: The median content of histamine in breast cancer tissue was 5·4 (range 0·9–27·3) µg/g (median concentration 4·5 × 10−5 mol/l), and was significantly greater than that in adjacent breast tissue (P = 0·007). Conclusion: The concentration of histamine in breast cancer was sufficient to inhibit lymphocyte function and could be locally immunosuppressive.