title: Histocompatibility antigen expression in pulmonary carcinomas as indication of differentiation and of special subtypes.
abstract: In 70 human carcinomas of the lung the expression of histocompatibility antigens (HLA) was investigated by using monoclonal antibodies in frozen sections. The immunmoreactive tumor volume was determined morphometrically. The tumor types showed a different pattern of HLA expressions. In squamous cell carcinomas (SQC) and small cell carcinomas (SCC) the HLA-A,B,C expression varied in a great range from 0% to 100% of positive tumor volume. For the most part, HLA-DR was not demonstrable. In adenocarcinomas (AC) and large cell carcinomas two different populations were observed. One showed a pattern of HLA expression as seen in SQC. Electron microscopically these AC (type 1) (AC/1) were characterized by intracytoplasmic mucin granules indicating a phenotypical relationship to goblet cells. The other--nearly 50% of adenocarcinomas and one third of large cell carcinomas--expressed both HLA antigens homogeneously in the total tumor volume. Electron microscopically the characteristics of type II pneumocytes and Clara cells were seen in tumor cells of these AC (type II) (AC/II), consisting in lamellar bodies and apically located electron-dense granules. In SQC and AC/I a significant correlation was found between grades of differentiation and mitotic activity on the one side, and expression of HLA-A,B,C on the otrher. The loss of HLA-A,B,C expression seemed to be an indication of a lower grade of differentiation; the smalles expression of HLA-A,B,C occurred in SCC.
authors.affiliation: Pathologiches institut der universität Würzburg, luitpolddrankenhaus,Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dämmrich
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Müller-Hermelink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buchwald
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziffer
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens