the purpose of this study was to determine the role of Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) immunostaining in the evaluation of aspiration smears from solid breast nodules and to discuss its possible clinical applications. Seventy-one cytologic specimens were studied; 52 were carcinomas, 15 fibroadenomas and 4 fibrocystic dysplasia. TPA was visualized with the peroxidaseantiperoxidase method, using 3-3 ‘diaminobenzidine as chromogen and hematoxylin as counterstaining. The incidence of TPA-positive aspiration smears was 88.5% in the carcinomas and 26.7% in the fibroadenomas. The four cases of fibrocystic dysplasia showed variable behaviour. The intensity of the TPA staining varied from – to + + + and was most frequently high in the carcinomas. The results of this research show a good correlation between a diagnosis of carcinoma and TPA positivity in fine needle aspirates of solid breast nodules.
BjorklundB.Antigenicity of malignant and normal human tissues by gel diffusion techniques.Int Arch Allergy1956; 8: 179–86.
2.
BombardieriE., CoccioloM.G., SeregniE.L'antigene polipeptidico tissutale (TPA): Un marcatore tumorale di proliferazione.Argomenti di Oncologia1984; 5: 41–50.
3.
BjorklundB., BjorklundV., WiklundB.A human tissue polypeptide related to cancer and placenta. I. Preparation and properties. II. Assay technique. III. Clinical studies of 1483 individuals with cancer and other conditions. In: BjorklundB., ed. Immunological techniques for detection of cancer, Stockholm: Bonniers, 1973; 133–42.
BarakM., SteinerM., FinkelB., AbrahamsonJ., AntalS., GruenerN.CA-15.3, TPA and MCA as markers for breast cancer.Eur J Cancer1990; 26: 577–80.
6.
Saccani JottiG., BombardieriE., FontanesiM.Plasma and tissue CEA and TPA markers in operable breast cancer. Preliminary results.Tumori1988; 74: 681–88.
7.
NathrathW.B.J., HeidenkummerP., BjorklundV., BjorklundB.Distribution of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) in normal human tissue: Immunohistochemical study on unfixed, methanol, ethanol and formalin fixed tissue.J Histochem Cytochem1985; 33: 99–109.
8.
BjorklundV., BjorklundB.Localization of synthesis of TPA in normal and malignant human tissues by immunohistochemical techniques. In: PetersH., ed. Protides of the biological fluids, Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1979; 229–32.
9.
LuthgensM., von JurgensonnH.TPA-RIA in clinical cancer diagnostics. In: PetersH., ed. Protides of the biological fluids, Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1979; 263–9.
10.
SkyrtenA., UnsgaardB., EklundG.Serum TPA related to activity in a wide spectrum of cancer conditions.Tumor Diagnostik1981; 3: 117–20.
11.
BjorklundV., BjorklundB.Immunohistochemistry of TPA: Notes on the methodology. In: PetersH., ed. Protides of the biological fluids.Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1984; 341–5.
12.
LuningB., NilssonU.Sequence homology between tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and intermediate filament (IF) proteins.Acta Chem Scand1983; B37: 731–3.
13.
GionM., MioneR., GattiC.Is tissue polypeptide antigen still a useful tumor marker in breast carcinoma? Comparison with CA 15.3 and MCA.Tumori1990; 76: 360–4.
14.
Saccani JottiG., BombardieriE., GrassiE., BecchiG., SeregniE., TardiniA.Immunohistochemical detection of CEA and TPA in breast pathology.J Exp Clin Cancer Res1986; 5: 123–30.
15.
GionM., MioneR., DittadiR.Carcinoembryonic antigen, ferritin, tissue polypeptide antigen, and CA 15/3 in breast cancer: Relationship between carcinoma and normal breast tissue.Int J Biol Markers1986; 1: 33–8.
16.
GionM., MioneR., DittadiR., FasanS., PalliniA., BruscagninG.Carcinoembryonic antigen, ferritin, and tissue polypeptide antigen in serum and tissue. Relationship with the receptor content in breast carcinoma.Cancer1986; 57: 917–22.
17.
BjorklundV., BjorklundB., WittekindC., von KleistS.Immunohistochemical localization of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in breast cancer.Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand1982; A90: 471–6.
18.
BjorklundV., BjorklundB.Differential immunocytochemical localization of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in breast cancer.Cancer Detect Prev1983; 6: 193–8.
19.
SternbergerL.A., HardyP.H., CuculisJ.J., MeyerH.G.The unlabeled antibody enzyme method of immunohistochemistry: Preparation and properties of soluble antigen-antibody complex (horseradish peroxidase anti-horseradish peroxidase) and its use in identification of spirochetes.J Histochem Cytochem1970; 18: 315–33.
20.
YamL.T.Immunocytochemistry of fine needle aspirates. A tactical approach.Acta Cytol1990; 34: 789–96.
21.
SenatoreS., ZizziL., BlasiC.Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) in urinary bladder cancer cytology: a follow-up study.Oncology1990; 47: 37–42.
