Can monoclonal antibody staining by 323/A3 and Ca1 of benign breast biopsies predict the development of breast cancer?

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) raised to Ca1 and 323/A3 proteins have been suggested as markers of the premalignant breast. To establish the validity of this hypothesis the immunohistochemical staining patterns of these mAb have been studied in two different groups of patients with benign breast disease. One group comprised patients with benign biopsies who later went on to develop breast cancer. The second group were patients with benign breast disease who have not developed breast cancer. The immunohistochemical staining patterns of the two groups were compared. The staining patterns between the groups, when ducto-lobular, apocrine metaplasia and fibroadenomatous tissue were analysed, was similar. This occurred both for Ca1 and 323/A3 mAb. We conclude that the antigens identified by these mAb will not enable prediction of cancer development.