Complementary value of five carcinoma markers for the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, adenocarcinoma metastasis, and reactive mesothelium in serous effusions.

Cytological slides of serous fluids of 41 malignant mesotheliomas, 88 metastatic adenocarcinomas, and 25 reactive effusions were immunostained with the antibodies anti-CEA, MOC-31, Leu-M1, Ber-EP4, and B72.3. Most mesotheliomas and all reactive fluids failed to stain with these antibodies. The sensitivity of the five markers to detect carcinoma cells differed remarkably. Especially MOC-31, Ber-EP4, and B72.3 stained with a high number of carcinoma cases and the complemetary value of Ber-EP4 and B72.3 to immunostain carcinoma cells was impressive: 94% of the metastatic adenocarcinoma cases reacted with Ber-EP4 or B72.3 in contrast to 1 of 41 malignant mesotheliomas.