Reactivity of B72.3 with adenocarcinomas. An immunohistochemical study of 476 cases.
BACKGROUND
The monoclonal antibody B72.3 has been shown to react with several common types of adenocarcinoma. However, the distribution of B72.3 reactivity in adenocarcinomas has not been well-enough defined to determine whether B72.3 immunostaining would be helpful in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of unknown origin.


METHODS
Formaldehyde fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 476 adenocarcinomas from a variety of primary sites were studied using B72.3 and an avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
B72.3 immunoreactivity was seen in 75-100% of the adenocarcinomas from the ovary, endocervix, endometrium, distal esophagus/stomach, colon, lung, breast, prostate, pancreas, and bile ducts. Positive reactions were unusual in thyroid carcinomas (7%) and renal cell carcinomas (11%). B72.3 reactivity was not seen in the 20 hepatocellular carcinomas or 4 adrenal cortical carcinomas studied.


CONCLUSIONS
B72.3 reacts with a wide variety of adenocarcinomas. Immunostaining with B72.3 may be helpful in excluding hepatocellular carcinoma in certain clinical settings.
Loy
T S
TS
Department of Pathology, University of Missouri Medical Center, Columbia 65212.
Nashelsky
M B
MB
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72