title: Tissue reactivity of anti-Leu19.
abstract: Monoclonal antibody anti-Leu19, is a marker of natural killer cells. Since reactivity between anti-Leu7, another natural killer cell marker, and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas has been described, we evaluated the reactivity of anti-Leu19 in 92 neuroendocrine tumours. Frozen sections in each case were immunostained using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with monoclonal anti-Leu19. We found Leu19 expression in 93% of the cases. We also evaluated 149 other tumours, including adenocarcinomas, undifferentiated large cell carcinomas, lymphomas, melanomas and soft tissue tumours. We found Leu19 expression in 36% (by liberal interpretative criteria), or 29% (by conservative interpretative criteria) of these cases. Thus, while anti-Leu19 appears to be a sensitive marker for neuroendocrine tumours, a lack of specificity limits its practical application in diagnostic histopathology.
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D004701:Endocrine Gland Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009380:Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018959:CD57 Antigens