Lewis X antigen immunostaining in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma.
Immunodetection of the Lewis X antigen has been suggested as a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma. To determine the specificity of Lewis X antigen immunostaining in this setting, we studied routinely processed, formalin-fixed tissue from 38 transitional cell carcinomas and 42 nonneoplastic urothelial lesions using the P12 monoclonal antibody to Lewis X antigen and an avidin-biotin immunohistochemical technique. Because Lewis X immunostaining of occasional umbrella cells has previously been noted in normal urothelium, staining of umbrella cells was not considered sufficient for a positive reaction in our study. Immunoreactivity for Lewis X antigen was seen in 34 of 38 (89%) cases of transitional cell carcinoma, in three of three cases of urothelial dysplasia, and in 20 of 39 (51%) of the reactive urothelial lesions. We conclude that immunostaining for the Lewis X antigen is not specific in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma.
Department of Pathology, University of Missouri Medical School, Columbia, USA.
T S
TS
Loy
C J
CJ
Alexander
R D
RD
Calaluce
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001360:Avidin; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001710:Biotin; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000276:immunology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin