Immunocytochemical staining of cells in 153 pleural effusions with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and lectins.

A panel of markers, including MAbs to different epitopes of CEA, B 6.2, detection of AP activity and lectin receptors (PNA, HPL, SBA, LAL, LcL) for cell identification in pleural effusions, is proposed. Using immunocytochemical methods cancer cells were determined in all 80 cytological positive and in 13 from 21 cytologically negative cancer effusions. The reaction was not observed in 45 benign effusions. The panel was unsuccessful to determine the tumor cell origin. The immunophenotypic features of reactive transformed lymphocytes in effusions were described and the criteria for diagnosis of B-cell and T-cell NHL were present. By means of these criteria lymphomatous cells in serous effusions of seven patients were revealed.