title: Expression of the pantumour Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen in the human placenta with the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen (or, more precisely, epitope, Galbeta1-3GalNAc) has long been known as a pancarcinoma antigen. Specific carrier proteins of the TF-antigen are the mucins, in particular Mucin 1. Here, we present our results of immunohistochemical identification of this carbohydrate antigen in human placenta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin-embedded placental and decidual tissues from patients with the diagnosis hydatidiform mole were incubated with different monoclonal antibodies directed against TF-epitope (CD 176, IgM) and against Mucin 1 (CD 227, IgG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No expression of the TF-antigen or of Mucin 1 (Muc 1) was found in the decidual tissues, but the samples of chorionic tissues were TF- and Muc 1-antigen positive. As positive control, placental samples of the first trimester were investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A disorder of the extravillous trophoblast cells is present in hydatidiform mole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Rostock, Südring 81, 18059 Rostock, Germany. dagmar.richter@kliniksued-rostock.de
authors.forename: D U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makovitzky
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briese
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D018396:Mucin-1; C016467:Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen