Expression of Das-1 in primary lung adenocarcinomas represents reactivation of an oncofetal pulmonary antigen.
OBJECTIVE
The monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated as mAb Das-1 was generated against a colonic epithelial protein. It reacts with bronchiolar epithelium and submucosal glands and weakly with alveolar lining cells of fetal lung. Adult alveolar epithelium is, however, nonreactive for mAb Das-1. The present study was designed to evaluate the immunoexpression of Das-1 and to correlate it with the histomorphology of primary lung adenocarcinomas and intestinal metaplasia.


METHODS
Eighty-four cases of primary lung adenocarcinomas were reviewed and categorized according to histologic grade and subtype. Immunohistochemical staining with mAb Das-1 was performed with normal colon as control.


RESULTS
Expression of Das-1 in the submucosal bronchial glands also served as internal control. Strong and diffuse staining was seen in 33 of the 84 cases of adenocarcinomas (39%).


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of Das-1 was seen in primary lung adenocarcinomas even though adult alveolar epithelium is negative. Staining with mAb Das-1 was seen regardless of the grade or histological subtype of the lung adenocarcinomas. As most primary lung adenocarcinomas are not of bronchial gland origin, expression of Das-1 represents activation of oncofetal antigens.
Deshpande
C G
CG
Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA.
Shah
R N
RN
Yeldandi
A
A
Papreddy
K
K
Badve
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467479:DAS-1 protein, human; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C507499:KRT20 protein, human; C507497:KRT7 protein, human; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; C031192:oncofetal antigens; D007633:Keratins