Simple mucins (T, sialosyl-T, Tn and sialosyl-Tn) are not diagnostic for malignant breast lesions.
Immunohistochemical study of the distribution of carbohydrate core-structures on O-linked glycoproteins (T, sialosyl-T, Tn and sialosyl-Tn) was performed using specific monoclonal antibodies on 148 primary breast lesions, including 10 normal breast tissues, 16 benign lesions and 122 invasive carcinomas (79 localized and 43 metastatic lesions). T antigen, not observed in normal breast tissue, was present in 31% of the benign lesions and in some cases of morphologically normal epithelium adjacent to tumor cells, compatible with altered glycosylation being an early event. Sialosyl-T (s-T) antigen was present in all cases of normal epithelium and in 81% of the benign lesions. Both Tn and sialosyl-Tn (s-Tn) antigen were present in normal breast lesions. Both Tn and sialosyl-Tn (s-Tn) antigen were present in normal breast tissue (30%) and benign lesions (31% and 19%). In the malignant lesions, 20% were positive for T antigen, 82% for s-T antigen, 66% for Tn antigen and 22% for s-Tn antigen. The staining pattern was nearly identical for carcinomas with and without lymph node metastases. In conclusion, immunostaining for simple mucins does not permit a clear distinction between benign and malignant breast lesions.
Reed
W
W
Department of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Bryne
M
M
Clausen
H
H
Dabelsteen
E
E
Nesland
J M
JM
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002241:Carbohydrates; D000939:Epitopes; D009077:Mucins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C040286:Tn antigen; C087769:sialosyl-T antigen; C055491:sialosyl-Tn antigen