Expression of sialyl Lewis(a) as a new prognostic factor for patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Sialyl Lewis(a) antigen (SLA) is considered to be a cancer-associated carbohydrate antigen.


METHODS
A total of 309 surgically resected primary colorectal cancer specimens and 501 associated metastases to regional lymph nodes were analyzed immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody (NS19-9) recognizing SLA. The specimens were obtained from 1981 to 1988 at the Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine (Tokyo, Japan).


RESULTS
Sialyl Lewis(a) antigen expression was detected in 75.4% (233/309) of the primary tumors and in 78.5% (99/126) of the metastases to regional lymph nodes. Significantly stronger expression was noted in the regional lymph node metastases than in the primary lesions (P = 4.5E-7). Sialyl Lewis(a) antigen expression in the primary tumors correlated significantly with regional lymph node metastasis (P < 0.005), recurrence (P < 0.005), and postoperative survival (P < 0.001) as determined by univariate analysis. Sialyl Lewis(a) antigen expression in the regional lymph node metastases also correlated strongly with recurrence (P < 0.005) and survival (P < 0.01). As determined by multivariate analysis, SLA expression in the primary tumor correlated strongly with recurrence (P = 3.0E-6) and survival (P = 6.9E-3).


CONCLUSIONS
Sialyl Lewis(a) antigen expression in primary tumors and metastases to regional lymph nodes is a useful marker for evaluating tumor aggressiveness and prognosis in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
Nakayama
T
T
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe
M
M
Katsumata
T
T
Teramoto
T
T
Kitajima
M
M
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens