Expression of a Tn-like epitope by carcinoma cells.
A monoclonal antibody, FBT3, was raised against Tn positive erythrocytes and, using immunohistochemistry, fresh and fixed tissues from patients with cancer were studied to detect any expression of a Tn-like epitope. Expression was found in neoplastic cells, usually both in cytoplasm and on cell membranes, from 104 of 147 cases of carcinoma and 1 of 13 cases of lymphoma, but rarely in adjacent, morphologically normal cells. Tn expression was seen in some normal glandular cells but, unlike cancer cells, it was distributed as fine granules in a supranuclear position. Detection of a Tn-like epitope is of theoretical interest and may be of direct diagnostic value.
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000939:Epitopes; C040286:Tn antigen