Immunohistochemical study on the distribution and significance of mononuclear cells in human breast carcinoma

Harnessing the immune system in the battle against breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite major innovations in early detection and advanced therapeutics, up to 30% of women with node-negative breast cancer and 70% of women with node-positive breast cancer will develop recurrence. The recognition that breast tumors are infiltrated by a complex array of immune cells that influence their development, progression, and metastasis, as well as their responsiveness to systemic therapies has sparked major interest in the development of immunotherapies. In fact, not only the native host immune system can be altered to promote potent antitumor response, but also its components can be manipulated to generate effective therapeutic strategies. We present here a review of the major approaches to immunotherapy in breast cancers, both successes and failures, as well as new therapies on the horizon.

Macrophages in human breast disease: a quantitative immunohistochemical study

We describe a quantitative histological study of 34 breast biopsies using a marker for human macrophages, the monoclonal antibody EBM/11. Seventeen of the biopsies were of malignant tumours. Both benign and malignant breast tissue contained large numbers of macrophages with significantly higher numbers occurring in the malignant group. An analysis was made of macrophage counts according to stage, grade and prognostic index of the malignant tumours. There was no correlation between macrophage numbers and any of these parameters in malignant breast tumours. We discuss the possible reasons why some earlier studies (using other markers such as lysozyme), have shown an apparently insignificant number of intratumoral macrophages.