Using a leukocyte common antigen marker (CD45) we established that much of the positive staining related to leukocytes at the IF, but that not all the leukocytes stained for cathepsin D. Using a specific monocyte/macrophage marker (CD68) we identified that the majority of the cathepsin D staining at the IF was in macrophages which may be considered a marker of the immune response to the tumor. This evidence concerns the gene CD68 and neoplasm.