[Humoral antibodies to structural proteins of murine mammary tumor virus as a potential immunologic marker of human breast cancer].

The presence of humoral antibodies specifically recognizing structural proteins of murine mammary tumor virus was studied in indirect immuno-enzymatic reaction, in 79 patients with suspected tumors of the breast. Diagnosis was verified after surgery by histological procedures. Said antibodies were detected in 13% of patients with benign tumors, lymphomas and mammary lymphosarcomas. However, in the breast cancer group including patients with T1-2N0M0 and T1N1M0, antibodies were identified in 85.7% of sera. It is suggested that patients with breast tumors who have antibodies to murine mammary tumor virus develop a specific nosological type of tumor which arises at reproductive age and is capable of high-rate growth and low-level metastatic spreading. Feasibility of application of said procedure for early detection of breast cancer is discussed.