Preliminary study on serum levels of mucinous like cancer antigen (MCA) in patients with breast disease: comparison with CEA.

MCA (mucinous-like cancer antigen) can be measured in the biological fluids of patients by means of a solid phase enzyme immunoassay. This study describes the results of MCA determination in sera of 230 patients with benign (99) and malignant (131) breast diseases. MCA levels were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in non cancer patients and in healthy subjects (p less than 0.

Evaluation of mucinous-like cancer antigen (MCA) in women with breast disease: preliminary results.

Mucinous-like cancer antigen (MCA) is a substance which is recognized by a novel monoclonal antibody, designated b12, when directed against a mixture of human breast cancer cell lines. The present study was carried out by means of a solid phase enzyme immuno assay to determine, prior to treatment, circulating levels of MCA in 131 women with malignant and in 99 with benign breast diseases (BBD). Statistical analysis did not reveal any significant difference between MCA values in healthy controls vs.

Localization of mucinous-like carcinoma associated antigen (MCA) in breast pathology: comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA).

The topographic distribution of a mucinous-like cancer antigen (MCA) recognized by a monoclonal antibody b-12 (MAb b-12) was assessed in benign (38) and malignant (66) breast tissues. The reactivity of MAb b-12 showed a good selectivity for breast tissues, reacting both with normal tissues and breast cancer. The degree of MCA expression was evaluated in the various groups of breast pathology adopting quantitative criteria of assessment.

Effects of cholesterol and alfa-2-recombinant interferon on cell growth and cell antigen production in the HT 29 cells, an established cell line of human colon adenocarcinoma.

HT 29 cells, an established cell line of human colon adenocarcinoma, were grown in RPMI 1640 medium without or with cholesterol at 25, 50, 100 micrograms/ml concentrations. In some experiments 100 or 200 U/ml alfa-2-A recombinant Interferon were added to the medium. Only in the case of the highest cholesterol concentration there was a reduced number of cells at confluence.

Effects of alpha, beta and gamma recombinant interferons on CEA production from HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line.

The human colon adenocarcinoma derived cell line HT-29 is a good in vitro model for the study of CEA production and release under various experimental conditions. Many studies indicate that CEA secretion is correlated with cell proliferation and seems to depend on the growth conditions and differentiation characteristics induced by the culture medium. The present study demonstrates that recombinant interferons alpha, beta and gamma (rIFN alpha, rIFN beta, rIFN gamma) can modify CEA production and release by HT-29 cell-line.