Co-expression of CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, CA 125, and TAG-72 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Various tumor-associated antigens have been reported in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue. This study examines the incidence and co-expression of CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, CA 125, and TAG-72 in serum and cancer tissue from patients with pancreatic cancer. In tissue, 83% of the cases demonstrated co-expression of three or more antigens. The incidence of antigen expression was comparably high for CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, and TAG-72; however, significantly more cancer cells within each sample demonstrated CA 19-9. Serologic co-expression of elevated antigen levels was less common; only 39% of the patients showed increased circulating levels of three or more antigens. The predictive value of tissue immunoreactivity for elevated circulating levels of antigen was strongest for CA 19-9. Immunoreactivity patterns in cancer tissue suggest that the epitopes for these antigens are distinct, and DU-PAN-2 antigen was identified in patients who could not manufacture CA 19-9 (a sialylated Lea antigen). However, a strong correlation between circulating levels of CA 19-9 and DU-PAN-2 supports the contention that these two antigens are incidentally expressed on the same mucin molecule.
Tempero
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68105-1065.
Takasaki
H
H
Uchida
E
E
Takiyama
Y
Y
Colcher
D
D
Metzgar
R S
RS
Pour
P M
PM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; C042317:DU-PAN-2 antigen, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72