Immunohistochemical study of type-1 blood antigen expressions in thyroid tumors: the significance for papillary carcinomas.
Immunohistochemical expressions of type 1 blood group antigens were studied for 95 cases of thyroid tumors, including 29 follicular adenomas, 23 follicular carcinomas, and 43 papillary carcinomas, applying monoclonal antibodies against DU-PAN-2, CA19-9, Lewis(a) (Le(a)), and Lewis(b) (Le(b)). Normal thyroid tissue invariably failed to express all four antigens. In follicular adenomas, DU-PAN-2 and CA19-9 were focally expressed in 7% and 21% of cases, and in follicular carcinomas, CA19-9 expression was limited to one case (4%); all cases were negative for DU-PAN-2. No or little expression of Le(a) or Le(b) was observed in these follicular tumors. In contrast, DU-PAN-2, CA19-9, Le(a), and Le(b) were expressed in 98%, 84%, 33%, and 49% of 43 papillary carcinomas, respectively. The positive stainings were observed mainly on the luminal surface of the tumor cells. The number of tumor cells that expressed DU-PAN-2 generally was greater than that of tumor cells that expressed CA19-9, Le(a), or Le(b). There was no significant difference in antigen expressions in female papillary carcinomas between subjects who were younger and older than 50 years old. The results suggest that DU-PAN-2 would be a useful immunohistochemical marker for distinguishing papillary carcinomas from follicular tumors. These immunohistochemical profiles imply the following: the activity of alpha2-3 sialyltransferase, a specific glycosyltransferase, would be more strongly enhanced in papillary carcinomas than in follicular tumors; the antigen expressions in papillary carcinomas may not be related to the alteration of the female sex hormone environment.
Division of Pathology, Isehara Kyodo Hospital, Japan.
S
S
Kamoshida
N
N
Ogane
M
M
Yasuda
T
T
Muramatsu
T
T
Bessho
H
H
Kajiwara
R Y
RY
Osamura
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; C042317:DU-PAN-2 antigen, human