Blood group MN precursors as human breast carcinoma‐associated antigens and “naturally” occurring human cytotoxins against them

Abstract

Blood groups MN active substances were found in benign and malignant human mammary glands. However, the precursor T (Thomsen-Friedenreich) antigen, as determined with human sera, occurred in all cancerous breast tissues tested but not in the benign mammary glands. Anti-T antibody, which is present in all human sera, was severely depressed in 21.16% of 189 breast carcinoma patients, compared with 3.62% of 470 persons of similar age without cancer. Of 720 persons tested approximately 85% of those with severely depressed anti-T had carcinoma; their IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations were of normal range. A greater than 25%-90% increase in anti-T titer score was found in 65.6% of 32 patients bled 1-14 months after mastectomy for carcinoma as compared with 3.1% of 32 patients with breast biopsy who had no carcinoma. All differences in anti-T titer score changes reported are statistically highly significant. Injection of T antigen from human erythrocytes increased anti-T titer scores.