The patterns of coexpression of tumor-associated antigens CA 19-9, TAG-72, and DU-PAN-2 in human pancreatic cancer.
Coexpression of CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, and TAG-72 was examined by a multilabeling immunohistochemical procedure in 31 surgically resected human pancreatic carcinomas. CA 19-9 was expressed in 74%, DU-PAN-2 in 84%, and TAG-72 in 65% of the cases. CA 19-9 and DU-PAN-2 were coexpressed in 16 cases (52%), CA 19-9 and TAG-72 in 10 cases (32%), DU-PAN-2 and TAG-72 in 8 cases (26%), and all three antigens in 10 tumors (32%). With the combination of the three antibodies, all 31 tumors were labeled. However, heterogeneity in antigen expression existed and the antibodies against CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, and TAG-72 depicted 55%, 49%, and 35% of the tumor cells, respectively. The average number of cells coexpressing CA 19-9 and DU-PAN-2, CA 19-9 and TAG-72, DU-PAN-2, and TAG-72 was 22%, 11%, and 10%, respectively. Only about 3% of tumor cells coexpressed all three antigens, whereas 8% of tumor cells did not express any of the antigens. There was no correlation between the patterns of antigen expression and age or sex. However, there was a tendency of reduced CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, and TAG-72 expression in less differentiated tumor areas. The results show that: 1) pancreatic cancer cells coexpress two or three antigens in different proportions; and 2) although the sensitivity for pancreatic cancer reaches 100% by all three antibodies, a remarkable heterogeneity exists and a minor fraction of tumor cells does not seem to produce any of these antigens.
Toshkov
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Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-6805.
Mogaki
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Kazakoff
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K
Pour
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PM
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C042317:DU-PAN-2 antigen, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72