Studies on the presence of particles resembling RNA virus particles in human breast tumors, pleural effusions, their tissue cultures, and milk

• Published in: Cancer 1971-12, Vol.28 (6), p.1431-1442
• Main Authors: Seman, G., Gallager, H. S., Lukeman, J. M., Dmochowski, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenofibroma - microbiology; Animals; Breast - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - microbiology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Line; Female; Humans; Mice; Milk, Human - microbiology; Neoplasm Metastasis; Oncogenic Viruses - isolation & purification; Pleural Effusion - microbiology; RNA Viruses; RNA, Viral - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197112)28:6<1431::AID-CNCR2820280616>3.0.CO;2-2

Ultrastructural studies have been carried out on biopsies of 84 breast cancers, 13 metastatic lymph nodes, 3 fibroadenomas, and on cells from 33 pleural effusions from breast cancer patients. Breast tumor tissues of 157 patients and pleural effusion cells of 36 patients have been put in tissue culture. Growth has been obtained of cells derived from 47% of the breast tumor biopsies and from 90% of the pleural effusions. However, no cell line could be established. Milk specimens of 4 women with breast cancer and of 17 apparently healthy women also have been examined for the presence of virus particles. Particles resembling murine type B and/or type C virus particles and small virus‐like particles have been observed in a number of specimens. Particles resembling type B and/or type C virus particles have been found in 34 of the 100 breast tumor, metastatic lymph node, and fibroadenoma biopsies. They also have been observed in 2 of 33 specimens of pleural effusions, in 4 of 72 tissue culture specimens, and in 4 of 21 milk specimens. Small virus‐like particles have been observed in 29 of the 100 biopsy specimens and in 3 of 38 tissue cultures derived from breast tumors. They also have been shown in 4 of 21 milk specimens. The relationship of these virus‐like particles to the origin of human breast neoplasia remains to be clarified.