Ferritin-bearing lymphocytes in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Four hundred forty-seven women attending a breast clinic because of either suspicious lesions, anxiety about breast cancer, follow-up after the removal of a benign breast lesion, or a family history of breast cancer had a routine test for percentage of ferritin-bearing lymphocytes ( FBL ) in their peripheral blood. Among patients who received surgery following physical examination in the clinic and/or mammography, the test was positive in 40 of the 45 (89%) with Stage I;II carcinoma, 3 of 3 with Stage IV carcinoma, and only in 29 of the 97 (37%) with benign breast disease. The possible reasons for the poorer detection rate in Stage III carcinoma are discussed. The test, however, identified 2 cases of Stage I carcinoma, 1 of breast lymphoma, and 12 with premalignant lesions in those who were found normal on physical examination and mammography. Ferritin-bearing lymphocyte results tended to become negative after surgical removal of the lesion, and became positive on recurrence of the tumor and appearance of metastases. The detection rate was maximized by combining the FBL test with the clinical modes of detection.