The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in surgically treated breast cancer patients as compared with other well-known prognostic factors. CIC of IgG and IgM classes were determined by a Clq immunoenzymatic assay in serum samples of 122 patients before mastectomy and 51 of them were found positive for IgG. The other class of CIC was virtually absent. No relevant differences of distribution of other prognostic parameters such as estrogen and progesterone receptors, histological grading, nodal and menopausal status were found according to CIC levels. Level of IgG CIC was affected by surgical removal of the tumor since significant reduction of it was observed 2 weeks after mastectomy; however, this reduction did not show prognostic significance. The patients included in the present study were subjected to a 7-year follow-up; eventually a significant association was observed between preoperative IgG CIC and relapse of the disease. Patients with positive values of immune complexes relapsed more frequently than those with negative values. Serial determinations of IgG CIC were carried out within the 24 months following mastectomy and statistically evaluated for their prognostic use. No significant association was found between increase of IgG CIC level and relapse of the disease.

Keywords:
Breast cancer, Prognostic factors, Circulating immune complexes
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© 1988 S. Karger AG, Basel
1988
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