ANTIGEN RAK - A NEW BREAST-CANCER DIAGNOSTIC MARKER

MAb anti-HIV-gp120 was found previously to detect a family of antigens expressed by breast and gynecological cancer. The same MAb anti-HIV-I gp120 reacted with a Mr 160,000 blood serum antigen (RAK). he highest frequency of the antigen RAK expression in the blood was observed in f ormer breast cancer patients (2.5: 1), lower in healthy women with fam ily history of breast cancer (3.9: 1), and the lowest in healthy women without a family history of breast or gynecological cancer (8.5: 1). Similar frequencies of RAK expression were observed in the blood of wo men with personal or family history of gynecological cancer. Analysis of the family pedigrees towards the inheritance pattern of breast, gyn ecological, or other cancers did not show any clear correlation betwee n antigen RAK concentration in the blood and the family cancer history . Due to the suspected viral origin of the antigen RAK, an inheritance of the predominantly latent form of the virus in the population of he althy women is suggested. Due to the highest frequency of RAK expressi on in the blood of former breast or gynecological cancer patients, ant igen RAK might represent a new, sensitive marker for diagnosis of mali gnancies of the female reproductive system.