title: Immunohistochemical expression of TAG-72 in normal and malignant endometrium: correlation of antigen expression with estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor levels.
abstract: TAG-72 is a tumor-associated antigen that is expressed by secretory endometrium and most endometrial adenocarcinomas. We used immunohistochemical techniques to quantitate expression of TAG-72, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor in 21 normal endometria and 44 endometrial adenocarcinomas. In normal cycling endometrial glands, TAG-72 expression was related inversely to expression of receptors for estrogen and progesterone. This suggests that TAG-72 expression in normal endometrium may be hormonally regulated. Ninety-one percent of endometrial adenocarcinomas expressed immunohistochemically detectable TAG-72. The magnitude of TAG-72 expression did not correlate with other known prognostic factors in endometrial cancer such as histologic grade, depth of myometrial invasion, surgical stage, or steroid receptor status. The production of TAG-72 by most endometrial adenocarcinomas may represent nonspecific expression by cells that have dedifferentiated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Soisson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berchuck
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lessey
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Soper
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Clarke-Pearson
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bast
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72