title: Identification of primary tumour site by immunolocalization of progastricsin in metastatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: The aspartic proteinase zymogen, progastricsin, which occurs in normal gastroduodenal mucosa and prostate, has been localized by the immunogold-silver method in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of metastatic adenocarcinoma in lymph nodes and liver, the primary site being known in each case. Progastricsin was demonstrated in 16 of 84 lymph node metastases, including 7 of 17 from stomach, 2 of 2 from prostate, and 7 of 65 from other sites. Progastricsin was also found in 19 of 98 hepatic metastases, including 8 of 22 from stomach, 6 of 24 from pancreas, and 5 of 52 from other sites. The presence of progastricsin in a metastasis correlated well with a primary tumour in the stomach or prostate or, less significantly, pancreas. Immunolocalization of progastricsin in a histological section of metastatic adenocarcinoma may help to locate the primary site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Leeds, U.K.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary*; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000201:enzymology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000201:enzymology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000032:analysis*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D010434:Pepsin A; C020557:gastricsin