The prognostic impact of blood group-related antigen Lewis Y and the ABH blood groups in resected non-small cell lung cancer.
The blood group antigen Lewis Y is expressed on epithelial tumors of the respiratory, digestive and reproductive system. Despite being regarded as an attractive target for immunotherapy, its function is still not well defined and its prognostic value remains a subject of discussion. Eighty-three paraffin-embedded tissue sections of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in stage I-IIIa, who underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor (73% male; 43% adenocarcinoma), were stained with a new, highly specific monoclonal antibody against Lewis Y (clone A70-C/C8). A positive Lewis Y expression was observed in 51% of patients; adenocarcinomas were favorably stained (67%). Multivariate analysis identified stage I, blood group A or AB and Lewis Y expression on tumor cells to be independent markers for improved survival after tumor resection (p = 0.024, 0.043, 0.003, respectively). In summary, unlike in several previous studies the presence of Lewis Y on tumor cells is a favorable prognostic factor in this cohort of resected NSCLC patients. Coexisting blood group antigen A may be of additional positive prognostic impact. We hypothesize that related blood group antigens both on tumor cells and in peripheral blood may have an underestimated function for progression in resected NSCLC.
Kuemmel
Andreas
A
Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine III, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.
Single
Kristjan
K
Bittinger
Fernando
F
Faldum
Andrea
A
Schmidt
Lars Henning
LH
Sebastian
Martin
M
Taube
Christian
C
Buhl
Roland
R
Wiewrodt
Rainer
R
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; C094162:Lewis Y antigen