Diagnostic utility of BCA-225 in detecting adenocarcinoma in serous effusions.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic value of the BCA-225 antibody in discriminating adenocarcinoma from benign mesothelium in body cavity effusions.

STUDY DESIGN

One hundred four cases of unequivocally benign (34 cases) and malignant (70 cases) serous effusions with cell block material were immunostained for BCA-225 using the ABC method without antigen retrieval. The percentage of positively staining cells in each case was estimated in a blind fashion.

RESULTS

BCA-225 stained at least 10% of morphologically malignant cells in 28 of 32 (88%) breast carcinomas and 58 of 67 (87%) adenocarcinomas overall. Neuroendocrine carcinomas (two cases) and one mesothelioma were positive in < or = 5% of their respective tumor cells. Of 34 benign cases, 6 (18%) exhibited positive staining, albeit in rare, morphologically benign cells.

CONCLUSION

BCA-225 is able to discriminate adenocarcinoma from reactive mesothelium in cell block preparations and may prove useful as part of an antibody panel.