The expression of tnf receptors at the materno/fetal interface in normal human pregnancy

Abstract

Breast tissues from 59 patients were immunohistologically studied for transferrin and transferrin receptors. None of the 8 normal breasts or 22 benign mastopathies, and only 1 of 7 fibroadenomas were reactive for transferrin, but 16 (72·7%) of 22 carcinomas were positive and parallel sections showed histopathologically that the reactive areas were confined to tumour-cell membranes. That breasttumour transferrin is probably receptor-bound in vivo was indicated by its complete chemical removal in vitro and return to the same cells following reincubation with dilute solutions of transferrin. Similar binding is found on certain normal or transformed cells and at the maternofetal interface of human placentæ. It is suggested that this oncofetal receptor preferentially binds apotransferrin and may offer a novel approach to more specific therapy of certain breast cancers.