Immunocytochemical detection of tumour markers in bone metastases from carcinoma of the breast.

The value of immunocytochemical methods for detecting seven tumour-associated antigens was assessed in ten cases of bone metastases from carcinoma of the breast. In order to obtain the optimal preservation of both their structure and antigenicity, the biopsies were fixed-decalcified in Bouin's fluid by means of an apparatus based on ion-exchange resins recently developed in this laboratory. Of the different tumour markers, milk fat globule membrane antigen and carcino-embryonic antigen were found to be present in the majority of the cases of neoplastic cells. These two markers appear, therefore, to be the most useful for the immunocytochemical identification of metastatic neoplastic cells in the bone marrow originating from carcinoma of the breast.