Correlation between leucocyte-migration inhibition by breast-cancer antigens, mammographic findings, and other breast-cancer risk factors.

A double-blind study of 62 normal women was carried out to determine if there was any correlation between the mean score of six weekly leucocyte-migration-inhibition tests (L.M.T.) against breast-cancer antigen, xeromammographic findings, and the presence of other epidemiological risk factors for the development of breast cancer. 36 women had abnormal mammograms, and 11 of these 26 (30.5%) had a mean L.M.T. score greater than or equal to 10%. 26 women had normal mammograms, and only 1 of these (3.8%) had a mean value greater than or equal to 10%. This difference was significant (p less than 0.02). A family history of breast cancer and/or previous surgery for cystic and proliferative disease also correlated significantly with L.M.T. score (p less than 0.05); the combined presence of epidemiological risk factors and an abnormal mammogram correlated most strongly with L.M.T. score (p less than 0.01). Although the results may indicate an "immunological risk factor" towards the development of breast cancer, the biological relevance of this observation remains to be proven.