alpha-Neup5Ac-(2--3)-beta-D-Galp-(1--4)-[alpha-L-Fucp-(1--3)]-D-GlcpNAc and Carcinoma--Squamous-Cell

Serum biomarkers provide valuable information about the diagnosis and prognosis of a wide variety of malignant tumors. Despite the identification of several useful serum biomarkers in lung cancer, consensus on their utility has not yet been reached. Furthermore, guidelines and standard protocols to implement their use for patients with lung cancer are lacking, despite the accumulation of much data on the efficacy of several serum biomarkers over recent decades. In this review, we discuss the molecular features, functions, and clinical relevance of the conventional serum biomarkers for lung cancer, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), sialyl Lewis

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-125 Antigen; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Carcinoid Tumor; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Humans; Keratin-19; Lung Neoplasms; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Oligosaccharides; Peptide Fragments; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; Recombinant Proteins; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Tissue Polypeptide Antigen

We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of three carbohydrate antigens, sialyl-Lewisa, sialyl-Lewisx and sialyl-Lewisx-i, in human lung cancer tissues using monoclonal antibodies, 2D3, SNH3 and FH6, respectively, and compared the expression rate of these three antigens with clinical and pathologic findings. The expression rate of all the three antigens in adenocarcinoma was higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma and that of sialyl-Lewisx was highest in adenocarcinoma. Sialyl-Lewisx antigen was expressed in all cases of positive nodal metastasis or postoperative distant metastasis in adenocarcinoma. In squamous cell carcinoma, however, there was no relationship between the expression rate of sialyl-Lewisx antigen and nodal or distant metastasis. These results suggest that expression of sialyl-Lewisx antigen in adenocarcinoma of the lung may be correlated with nodal or distant metastasis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Gangliosides; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphatic Metastasis; Oligosaccharides; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) reportedly play a pivotal role in antitumor immunity against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); however, mechanisms governing TIL recruitment to OSCC tissues remain to be clarified. This study was undertaken to assess a potential association between TILs and high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels that express sialyl 6-sulfo Lewis X (LeX).. OSCC tissue sections (n=41) were subjected to immunohistochemistry for sialyl 6-sulfo LeX and CD34 to allow quantitation of HEV-like vessels. Triple immunohistochemistry for sialyl 6-sulfo LeX and either CD3 and CD20 or CD4 and CD8 was conducted to determine which lymphocyte subset is more closely associated with HEV-like vessels.. HEV-like vessels expressing sialyl 6-sulfo LeX were detected in 27 of 41 (65.9%) OSCC cases, and these vessels were more frequently found in early disease (T1/T2 stages) compared with advanced (T3/T4) stages. The number of T cells attached to the inner surface of these HEV-like vessels was significantly greater than that of B cells, while the number of CD4. Sialyl 6-sulfo LeX is displayed not only on HEV-like vessels but also on OSCC cells and may potentially function in antitumor immunity against OSCC.

Topics: Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lewis X Antigen; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Male; Mouth Neoplasms; Oligosaccharides; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

The survival rate for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the lowest of the major cancers and has not substantially improved in the past two decades. Tumours with similar histological features may have widely differing clinical outcomes and thus identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers may be valuable for determining appropriate clinical management strategies. The objective of this study was to establish the prognostic significance of six molecular markers in HNSCC in a New Zealand population: matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, sialyl Lewis antigens a and x (sLe(a) , sLe(x) ) and alpha B-crystallin.. Retrospective review of 145 sequential HNSCC patients from a tertiary centre with minimum 3 years surveillance. Sections from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour blocks were immunostained for the molecular markers and scored. Cox regression modelling was used to adjust for potential confounding variables impacting on cancer survival.. Multivariate analysis for individual biomarkers, controlling for age, sex, tumour grade, N-stage, T-stage, tumour site, smoking history and alcohol use, revealed poorer survival with tumour expression of MMP-2 (hazard ratio = 1.98, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-3.52, P = 0.021) and sLe(x) (hazard ratio = 3.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.33-7.80, P = 0.010). A stepwise analysis showed that MMP-2 and sLe(x) were independently prognostic after covariate adjustment.. MMP-2 and sLe(x) were negative prognostic markers for survival in these HNSCC patients. This offers opportunities for clinical trials to reduce the risk of nodal and distant metastases through blocking tumour cell adhesion to endothelium.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Crystallin B Chain; Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; New Zealand; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Retrospective Studies; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1

To evaluate in vitro the potential links between sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) and cancer stem cells (CSC) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNSCC is an aggressive malignancy with high mortality mainly due to metastasis. CSC have emerged as important players in HNSCC metastasis. sLeX is a tetrasaccharide carbohydrate known to play a key role in metastatic dissemination by promoting binding of the tumor cells to the endothelium.. Experimental, in vitro.. Laboratory of Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis, University of Michigan.. A panel of stage- and anatomic-site specific primary and metastatic HNSCC cell lines was assessed by flow cytometry to quantify sLeX relative expression levels. Serum-free conditioned media from the same HNSCC lines was collected over a time course of 72 hours and assessed by Western blot for secreted sLeX expression. Representative HNSCC cell lines were cultured as floating orospheres (condition that enhance CSC growth) or under normal adherent conditions and characterized by flow cytometry for CSC markers (CD44, aldehyde dehydrogenase [ALDH]) comparatively with sLeX expression.. sLeX is predominantly expressed in carcinomas originating from the oral cavity. Secreted sLeX is also found to be high in oral carcinomas and increased over the analyzed time course. Floating orospheres were strongly positive for CD44 and ALDH, confirming CSC enrichment of the orospheres. Tumor cells grown as orospheres are 95% to 100% positive for sLeX compared to 10% to 40% of adherent counterpart.. These studies provide the first evidence of sLeX relationship with CSC in HNSCC.

Topics: Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Line, Tumor; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Oligosaccharides; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

Expression and implication of carbohydrate antigens in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in oral cavity was examined. In the cell lines, type 2H and Lewis y antigens were markedly expressed. In the tissues from SCC patients and benign disorders, type 2H was highly expressed in hyperplasia (96.4 %), displasia (92.9 %) and SCC (100 %). Lewis y was, in turn, expressed mainly in cancer tissues (91.3 %), suggesting that Lewis y is a cancer-associated antigen. Normal oral mucosa showed no expression of these blood group antigens. Surprisingly, Lewis y antigen disappeared in the invasion sites where Ki-67 was definitely stained. Over-expression of Lewis y with manipulation of a fucosyltransferase cDNA resulted in suppression of cell growth and invasion, and knockdown of Lewis y also brought about increased cell growth and invasion. In either situations, no changes in the expression of sialyl-Lewis x could be found. Lowered tumor growth and invasion into surrounding tissues were also shown in Lewis y-positive SCC grafts in nu/nu mice. All these results together with alternative staining between Lewis y and Ki-67 in cancer tissues and FUT1 transfectants suggested that loss of Lewis y is a crucial event for the late stage of SCCs.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Fucosyltransferases; Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Transplantation; Oligosaccharides; Organ Specificity; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

The clinical relevance of the carbohydrate antigen Sialyl Lewis a (SLea) as a serum tumor marker in diagnosis and follow-up treatment is unquestioned in a broad spectra of human carcinomas. Overexpression of this antigen is combined with poor prognosis and malignant relapse. The aim of our study was the systematic investigation of SLea expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx versus normal and phlogistic tissue.. Paraffin-embedded sections of normal, phlogistic and squamous cell carcinoma tissue were incubated with a monoclonal antibody against SLea. The staining reaction was performed using ABC-Peroxidase and DAB. As a positive control tissue of breast cancer was used and the negative control was performed with unspecific mouse IgM. Semiquantitative evaluations were carried out double-blinded by two independent investigators, including a pathologist.. A very faint expression of SLea (Ca19-9) in normal laryngeal tissue, a moderate upregulation in phlogistic tissue and a dramatic upregulation in some types of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were observed. Laryngeal cancer is the most common cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract. Most cases of laryngeal cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and can be classified into: well differentiated (more than 75% keratinization), moderately differentiated (25-75% keratinization), and poorly differentiated (<25% keratinisation) carcinomas.. The results of this study indicate that SLea is a potential tumor marker in carcinoma of the larynx.

Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carbohydrates; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Lewis X Antigen; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Up-Regulation

The present study aimed to determine significance of E-cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule, and sialyl Lewis-X (sLeX), a cell surface antigen, in oral carcinogenesis. Expressions of E-cadherin and sLeX were detected using western blot analysis from oral malignant (n=25), and oral precancerous tissues (OPC, n=20) and their adjacent normal tissues. An altered expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) and sLeX was observed in malignant and precancerous tissues. E-cad western blot revealed presence of two bands, a 120 kDa (native, E-cad120) and a 97 kDa (known as truncated E-cad97). The accumulation of truncated E-cad97 and sLeX in malignant and OPC tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues was observed. Receiver's Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed good discriminatory efficacy of E-cad97, E-cad97:120 ratio and sLeX between the malignant and adjacent. normal tissues. Further, a positive correlation of E-cad97 and sLeX overexpression with advanced stage of the disease and lymphnode metastasis was observed. The data suggest that E-cadherin truncation and sLeX overexpression are early events which may facilitate the tumor cells to metastasize. Also, overexpression E-cad97 and sLeX in OPC tissues may be useful to predict metastatic potentials of tumors at an early stage of oral carcinogenesis. Key words: Oral cancer, oral precancerous conditions, E-cadherin, sialyl Lewis-X, metastasis.

Topics: Adult; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; Blotting, Western; Cadherins; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms; Precancerous Conditions; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; ROC Curve; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

Tumor markers whose antigenic determinants have been demonstrated to consist of carbohydrates are probably one of the most extensive tools that have been used in routine cancer diagnosis. In this study, the relevance of carbohydrate antigen expression profile was examined in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma together with prognosis in 130 patients.. The expression of carbohydrate antigens was estimated immunohistochemically by anti-sialyl Lewis a (sialyl Le(a)) and anti-sialyl Lewis x (sialyl Le(x)) monoclonal antibodies, and correlation between their staining and clinicopathological status was examined. In addition, the correlation of both carbohydrate antigens expression was evaluated with microvessel density (MVD).. Expressions of sialyl Lewis antigens and MVD were associated with several clinicopathological features that reflect the tumor aggressiveness in esophageal cancer. The 5-year survival rate of patients was found to be associated with expression of sialyl Le(a) and sialyl Le(x) antigens and with MVD; thus, all of them were revealed to be independent prognostic factors.. Combination of these factors offered a better prediction of prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Further, carbohydrate antigens represent a promising target for therapeutic approaches against the disease.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Gangliosides; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Survival Analysis

The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical significance of serum Sialyl Lewisx (SLX) concentrations as a predictor of N2 disease in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.. The study included 272 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent pulmonary resection in our institution between January 1998 and December 2003. Of 272 patients, the serum concentrations of SLX were measured by using a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit.. The 5-year survival rates of patients with concentrations of SLX > 38 U/mL and those with lower concentrations were 32% and 69%, respectively (P < .0001). The median serum concentration of SLX in patients with multilevel N2 or N3, single-level N2, and N0/1 disease were 44, 30, and 27 U/mL, respectively. The concentrations of serum SLX in patients with multilevel N2 disease were significantly higher than those in patients with single-level N2 or those with N0/1 disease (Mann-Whitney U-test; P < .0001). Although the sensitivity of SLX for identifying patients with non-small-cell lung cancer was only 24% in all patients, the sensitivity of SLX increased as the N-factor increased; the sensitivity of N0/1 disease was 15%, that of single-level N2 disease was 22%, and that of multilevel N2 or N3 disease was 71%.. High serum concentrations of SLX predicted multilevel N2 disease and the associated poor outcome. Although the sensitivity of serum SLX is not acceptable for use as a screening tumor marker, we suggest that the serum concentration of SLX is useful as a staging marker to determine the strategy of treatment.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome

Serum from patients with different malignancies contain an abnormal concentration of a a1-acidic-glycoprotein (AAG) and also, increased levels of AAG are associated with the presence of tumor mass. In the present report, serum levels of AAG were measured by radial immunodiffusion in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) patients taking into account disease status parameters such as tumor localization, stage and extension of disease. Immunohistochemical methods, SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting were employed to study the expression of AAG and a carbohydrate related antigen (sialyl Lewis x) in tumor tissues and derived fractions. AAG showed abnormal levels in 7/15 oral cavity tumor patients sera, 2/5 oropharynx and 5/10 larynx tumors; increased AAG serum levels belonged to patients with disseminated disease. On the other hand, the presence of AAG and sialyl Lewis x were demonstrated in carcinoma cells and in derived fractions from tumor tissues belonging to patients with elevated AAG serum levels. In the present study, we have found elevated levels of AAG in serum samples from SCCHN patients; these neoplastic cells are capable to express AAG.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Colorectal Neoplasms; Epithelial Cells; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasm Staging; Oligosaccharides; Organ Specificity; Orosomucoid; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

In this retrospective study we describe the immunohistochemical expression pattern of sLe(x) epitopes in endothelial and epithelial cells of 59 squamous carcinomas of the tongue, and relate this to the relative survival rates of the patients. Endothelial sLe(x) expression was significantly elevated in malignant lesions compared to normal tissues, but did not have any prognostic value for the relative survival rate. In contrast, epithelial sLe(x) expression was decreased in carcinomas compared to normal tongue. The patients whose carcinoma showed only moderate epithelial HECA-452 reactivity had a significantly better relative survival rate than the patients with tumor specimens with neglible or very high HECA-452 reactivity. The epithelial staining with the two other anti-sLe(x) antibodies (CSLEX-1 and 2F3) did not correlate with the survival rates of tongue carcinoma patients.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Carbohydrate Sequence; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Endothelium; Epithelium; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasm Metastasis; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Survival Rate; Tongue Neoplasms

Carbohydrate antigens in cancer cells are considered to be involved in the binding of cancer cells to the endothelium during metastasis.. Seventy cases of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were obtained from biopsy specimens and were analyzed immunohistochemically using an antibody against sialyl Lewis (Le)a or sialyl Le(x). Flow cytometry was performed to detect the sialyl Le(a) or sialyl Le(x) expressed on oral SCC cell lines.. The expressions of sialyl Le(a), but not sialyl Le(x), of primary tumors significantly correlated to nodal metastasis; 71% of the metastatic cases express sialyl Le(a) and the cases with positive sialyl Le(a) and no sialyl Le(x) demonstrated a high incidence of metastasis (80%). A flow cytometric study demonstrated the oral SCC cell line, which can metastasize in nude mice, to express a high level of sialyl Le(a).. The high expression of sialyl Le(a) in primary tumors may thus be involved in nodal metastasis and therefore predict a poor prognosis in oral SCC.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; E-Selectin; Flow Cytometry; Gangliosides; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lewis X Antigen; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Mouth Neoplasms; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Changes in cell membrane carbohydrate antigens play an important role in metastatic potential associated with carcinogenesis and in prognostic factors. We investigated immunohistochemically the expression of CD15 and sialyl CD15 (sCD15) in lung cancer tissue by using Leu-M1 antibody and MXKM-93 antibody, respectively, and then assessed the relationship between their expression and the patient outcome. Lung cancer tissue expression of CD15 was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma (55.9%) and squamous cell carcinoma (44.7%) than in small cell carcinoma (10%) (p=0.01, p=0.006). Expression of sCD15 was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma (52.9%) than in squamous cell carcinoma (10.5%) or small cell carcinoma (10%) (p<0. 0001, p=0.016). No association was found between CD15 expression and clinical stage, but sCD15 expression increased with clinical stage (stage I+II vs. III+IV: 16.7% vs. 39.6%; p=0.049). Expression of CD15 (1.5%) was significantly lower than expression of sCD15 (12.3%) in normal surrounding tissue. Examination of associations with outcome in NSCLC revealed that expression of sCD15 in resected cases, and expression of CD15 in non-resected cases were significantly correlated with shortening of median survival time (p<0.05). When associations with prognostic factors were assessed by univariate analysis, expression of sCD15 was found to be correlated with distant metastasis, and expression of CD15 with decrease in performance status (PS). In the multivariate analysis by the Cox proportional hazard model, sCD15 and CD15 negativity contributed to longer survival time after PS and clinical stage. The results of a combination assay of CD15 and sCD15 showed that expression of both carbohydrate antigens significantly shortened survival time in both the resected and non-resected group (log-rank test, p<0.05). This combination assay also appeared to be extremely useful in predicting the outcome in all clinical stages of NSCLC.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lewis X Antigen; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Rabbits; Risk Factors; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Survival Analysis

Sialyl Lewis-x (sLx) is a cellular adhesion molecule (CAM) that has been implicated in the inflammatory reaction and cancer metastasis. The sLx is the carbohydrate ligand of endothelial-selectin (E-selectin), an inducible vascular endothelial CAM. The role of sLx has been investigated in several cancers, and its presence has been correlated with advanced disease stage, decreased disease-free survival, and greater metastatic potential. A recent study has found that cultured head and neck (HN) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines express sLx and that binding of these cells to cytokine activated endothelium correlates with the endothelial expression of E-selectin. The purpose of this study was to identify sLx in the tumors of patients with HNSCC and to see if the presence of sLx correlated with disease status.. We performed immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to detect the sLx antigen using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) KM-93. Eighty-two specimens of HNSCC that were obtained at the time of resection or biopsy were analyzed for sLx staining patterns and intensities. The clinical outcomes of survival, disease-free interval, and incidence of distant metastasis were then assessed to determine whether there was a correlation with sLx tumor expression. In addition, we analyzed specimens from metastatic HNSCC sites for expression of sLx.. The sLx expression was identified in 62% of the primary tumor specimens and 87% of the metastatic tumor specimens analyzed by IHC. The staining pattern in the HNSCC tumors differed from that seen in normal squamous epithelium but was variable in both intensity and distribution. The sLx expression in the metastatic sites was higher than in the primary sites in 67% of the specimens (10 of 15). There was no correlation between sLx staining and disease status.. The results of this study demonstrate that sLx is present in HNSCC and supports the data that show that sLx may play a role in the metastasis of HNSCC. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the role of sLx, E-selectin, and other CAMs in HNSCC.

Topics: Adolescent; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lewis X Antigen; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Oligosaccharides; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

The levels of sialyl Lewis X-i antigen (SLX), which is one of the cancer-associated carbohydrate antigens, were evaluated in 83 malignant and 46 benign pleural effusions. SLX levels in pleural effusion due to lung adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those due to benign diseases (p < 0.0001), lung cancer other than adenocarcinoma (p = 0.0052), and adenocarcinoma originating from other organs (p = 0.0492). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal cut-off level in the discrimination between malignant and benign pleural effusions was 92 U/ml, which gave a sensitivity of 57.1% and a specificity of 77.8%. The cut-off level of pleural effusion in patients with carcinomatous pleuritis might be higher than that of serum (38 U/ml).

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Biomarkers, Tumor; Biopsy; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Neoplasms; Oligosaccharides; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pleurisy; Radioimmunoassay; Reproducibility of Results; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

Recent studies have identified that mucin antigens and Lewis X (Lex)-related antigens behave like oncodevelopmental tumor-associated antigens in several human adenocarcinomas. However, the expression of these antigens in pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and in the precursor lesion is not fully elucidated yet. In the present study, the expression of mucin core protein antigens associated with the MUC1 gene product (DF3 antigen, mammary-type apomucin) and the MUC2 gene product (intestinal-MRP antigen, intestinal-type apomucin) mucin carbohydrate antigens that are associated with the earliest steps in mucin glycosylation (Tn, sialyl-Tn and T), and Lex-related antigens (Lex, Ley and sialyl Lex-i) in biopsy or resected specimens from 26 normal squamous epithelia (NSE), 49 dysplastic squamous epithelia (DSE) and 51 SCC were examined. The DF3 antigen was not expressed in NSE (0%), whereas it was expressed in 20 DSE (41%) and in 31 SCC (61%). The intestinal-MRP antigen showed no expression in NSE, DSE or SCC. The Tn antigen showed no expression in NSE, but showed low expression rates in DSE (14%) and in SCC (16%). The sialyl-Tn and T antigens were expressed in NSE, as well as in DSE and SCC. The T antigen expression increased with progression from NSE to DSE to SCC, while the sialyl-Tn antigen did not show such a tendency. Any of the three Lex-related antigens showed no characteristic expression in DSE and SCC. In the eight antigens examined, only DF3 antigen was an effective marker for DSE and SCC in the pharyngeal and laryngeal region. Cytoplasmic expression of DF3 and sialyl-Tn antigens were more frequently seen in SCC than in DSE, and might be useful to differentiate SCC from DSE.

Topics: Antigens, Neoplasm; Antigens, Viral, Tumor; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Gastric Mucins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Mucins; Oligosaccharides; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Precancerous Conditions; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen