Applications of immunoperoxidase staining to studies of human breast disease

Beginning in the second decade and extending into the eighth, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States [1]. More distressing still is the epidemiological evidence that, irrespective of the new therapeutic modalities, the 25-year trend in age adjusted breast cancer death rates shows no significant change [1]. In a continuing attempt to alter these dismal findings in a positive manner, pathologists and others have attempted to further recognize and subdivide breast neoplasms prior to their exhibiting highly aggressive biologic behavior. One avenue that offers some hope in this regard is the study of antigens, both host and tumor derived. Herberman, for the purposes of discussion, divides the common antigens on tumors into three major groups: i — virus induced or associated antigens, ii — fetal or carcinoembryonic antigens, and iii — tissue antigens [2]. We will subsequently discuss each of these.