RCAS1/EBAG9 (receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells/estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9), an estrogen-transcribed protein, has been shown to be expressed in a wide variety of cancers, including uterine, ovarian, and lung cancer cells. Soluble and membranous RCAS1 proteins may play a role in the immune escape of tumor cells by promoting T lymphocyte inhibition of growth and apoptosis. In the present report, the presence of RCAS1 was revealed in human ductal breast cancer biopsies by immunohistochemistry. Its cytoplasmic expression was exhibited in cancer cells obtained from tumor biopsies and in breast cancer cell lines. RCAS1 significantly correlated with tumor grade. In addition, RCAS1 was identified in MCF7 culture supernatants. Those observations suggest that RCAS1 is a new marker for breast cancer progression and a possible mechanism for breast cancer immune escape. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.