Cellular hypersensitivity against autologous and homologous breast cancer was evaluated by means of a leukocyte migration procedure. The antigens employed were cryostat sections of breast tissue. The relative leukocyte migration in the presence of the antigen as compared with migration without antigen was termed the migration index (MI), and used to quantify the response. The cryostat sections were also used for parallel studies of cellular hypersensitivity against autologous breast cancer by means of the skin window procedure. Both procedures demonstrated a stage‐response relationship against autologous breast cancer; in situ < Stage I < Stage II. Both procedures demonstrated the persistence of hypersensitivity in patients who were apparently free of cancer more than 2 years postoperatively. Cross reactivity (MI procedure) was uncommon against homologous invasive breast cancer, but was found in approximately half of the tests against homologous in situ carcinoma tissue. Such reactivity against homologous in situ carcinoma was observed in Stage II patients as frequently as in Stage I patients. The data corroborate our previous observations on the unique antigenicity of in situ carcinoma and emphasize the need for careful correlations between clinicopathologic findings and in vitro measurements.
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