Detection of Tn, sialosyl-Tn and T antigens in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.
The simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens Tn, sialosyl-Tn, T and the 'cryptic' sialylated variant of the last represent the mucin core oligosaccharide structures that are produced in the initial steps of the mucin biosynthetic pathway. Utilizing monoclonal antibodies anti-Tn antigen (HB-Tn1), anti-sialosyl-Tn antigen (HB-STn1), anti-T antigen (HB-T1) and the biotinylated Amaranthus caudatus agglutinin (ACA), we have investigated the expression of the simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC; 15 cases) compared with sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC; 60 cases) and normal colonic mucosa (30 cases). A variable positivity of Tn, sialosyl-Tn, T and the cryptic sialylated form of this latter antigen was encountered in both HNPCC and sporadic CRC cases; in addition, in normal colonic mucosa a constant reactivity was encountered only for Tn and the cryptic sialylated form of T, while negative results were always obtained for sialosyl-Tn and T antigens. Statistical analysis, performed using a Chi-square test, showed significantly lower (P = 0.037) expression of sialosyl-Tn and higher (P = 0.022) expression of T in HNPCC than in sporadic CRC, suggesting a greater presence of beta 1,3 galactosyltransferase activity in HNPCC than in sporadic CRC. We were unable to identify a peculiar phenotype for HNPCC with simultaneous evaluation of reactivity for HB-Tn1, HB-STn1, HB-T1 and ACA; the biological significance of the preferential expression of T antigen in HNPCC remains to be investigated.
Giuffrè
G
G
Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy.
Vitarelli
E
E
Tuccari
G
G
Ponz de Leon
M
M
Barresi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; C040286:Tn antigen; C055491:sialosyl-Tn antigen