title: Tumor-associated glycoprotein expression in salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinomas: an immunohistochemical study using the monoclonal antibody B72.3.
abstract: The monoclonal antibody B72.3 recognizes a mucin-like glycoprotein which is expressed in a variety of human malignancies including adenocarcinomas of the breast, colon, lung, endometrium, pancreas, and ovary. The antibody, an immunoglobulin G (IgG1) subclass monoclonal antibody, was generated from membrane-enriched fractions of metastatic mammary carcinoma. Because the antigen detected by B72.3 is expressed in a broad spectrum of human neoplasms, B72.3 is a potentially useful marker for glandular neoplasms. Despite its potential usefulness, there is only one previous comprehensive study which has examined the distribution of the tumor-associated glycoprotein (TAG-72), as detected by B72.3, in salivary neoplasms. We examined 21 mucoepidermoid carcinomas with the antibody. Twenty (95%) of the 21 carcinomas stained positively. The only carcinoma that did not stain was initially thought to be a high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma based on immunohistochemical staining. Further review, however, indicated that this lesion was most likely a pure squamous cell carcinoma, and the absence of TAG-72 antigen expression was helpful in this regard. Among those neoplasms which stained with B72.3, the strongest staining was seen in the low-grade carcinomas. These results suggest that B72.3 may be a useful marker for glandular differentiation in mucoepidermoid carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Roa
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hruban
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Richtsmeier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72