NONSPECIFICALLY LABELED CELLS THAT SIMULATE BONE-MARROW METASTASES INPATIENTS WITH NONMETASTATIC BREAST-CANCER

Aims-To determine whether the presence of disseminated bone marrow tum our cells at diagnosis is a prognostic factor for breast cancer patien ts at high risk of recurrence or bone metastasis, and to assess their presence as a criterion for evaluation of the potential benefits of ad juvant chemotherapy. Methods-Multiple bone marrow aspirates from 72 br east cancer patients free from metastasis were obtained during surgery at the time of diagnosis and were tested immunologically by alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase technique with a panel of three a ntiepithelial monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) KL(1), EMA, and HMFG(2). Re sults-In nine of 72 patients, with each MoAb tested, numerous strongly positive cells always isolated were observed. However, it was demonst rated that these cells were non-specifically labelled and could be fou nd in normal controls.Conclusions-There was no evidence of marrow tumo ur cells in 72 operable breast cancer patients. It is suggested that p ublished results may be greatly overestimated and that non-specific la belling may be undetected. More specific MoAb should be found and a co rrelation with molecular biology should be performed if this criterion is to be considered as a prognostic factor.