lewis-x-antigen and Genital-Diseases--Female

Sialyl SSEA-1 antigen (SLX) is a highly specific tumor marker composed of sugar chain antigens that have Lewis X at their terminals and bind to sialic acid. This antigen is rarely detected in normal tissues, and is present in adenocarcinoma and fetal tissues. We studied the clinical usefulness of SLX in gynecological patients and obtained the following results. (1) The antigen was frequently positive in patients with ovarian cancer with a mean of 89.5 +/- 48.3 U/ml (72.8%, 8/11) and in those with endometriosis with a mean of 39.8 +/- 10.3 U/ml (75.0%, 6/8). (2) Among the gynecological malignancies, the percent positivity was low in those with cervical cancer (20.0%, 5/25), endometrial cancer (33.3%, 1/3), and cancer of the fallopian tube (33.3%, 1/3). (3) The antigen was negative in 20 with myoma uteri, 20 normal pregnant women, and 9 nonpregnant healthy women during the follicular, luteal, or menstrual phase. It was negative in 8 of 9 patients with benign ovarian cyst. False negative results were rare. (4) The SLX level was higher in the ascites than in the serum in patients with ovarian cancer and in those with benign ovarian tumors. (5) The serum SLX in patients with ovarian cancer, which was positive before tumor resection, became negative 2 weeks postoperatively. These results suggest that SLX is a tumor marker with a high specificity to adenocarcinoma of the reproductive organs.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Antigens, Neoplasm; Biomarkers, Tumor; Endometriosis; False Positive Reactions; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Glycolipids; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Menstrual Cycle; Middle Aged; Myoma; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms

To evaluate the clinical significance of serum SSEA-1 level, the antigen level was measured in sera of obstetric and gynecologic patients. A positive rate was low in patients with endometriosis (9.1%), myoma uteri (0%), benign ovarian tumor (15%), cervical squamous cell carcinoma (14%) and endometrial carcinoma (18%). In this series of study, interest was that positive cases in benign ovarian tumor group were all patients with dermoid cyst. On the other hand, a high positive rate was observed among the patients with cervical adenocarcinoma (50%), primary ovarian malignancies (55%) and secondary ovarian malignancies (50%). Among the patients with ovarian malignancies, serum sialyl SSEA-1 level significantly increased according to clinical stage. In patients with positive serum sialyl SSEA-1, rising or falling of the serum level of this antigen correlated well with progression or regression of the disease. Measurement of serum CA125 was also performed in patients with ovarian malignancies, which showed a significantly higher positive rate (96%) and revealed that this antigen has no correlation with sialyl SSEA-1. A low positive rate of serum sialyl SSEA-1 level (9.1%) was observed in gravidas, while a higher positive rate (43%) in puerperas, especially within three days after parturition. This evidence should be considered when serum sialyl SSEA-1 antigen is measured as tumor marker. All these observations suggest that the measurement of serum sialyl SSEA-1 level is useful not only in the diagnosis of ovarian malignancies but for the judgment of the effect of treatment and the search for their recurrences.

Topics: Antigens, Neoplasm; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Glycolipids; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Ovarian Neoplasms; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy

The serum levels of sialyl SSEA-1 antigen, a type 2 chain carbohydrate antigen detected using the monoclonal antibody FH-6, were elevated in 47.2% of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, with the percent positivity increasing with the clinical stage. Of the histological type, it is interesting to note the relatively high sensitivity in patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma and clear cell carcinoma in contrast with the CA 125 antigen levels. Although the percentage of patients with ovarian cancer who had elevated sialyl SSEA-1 antigen levels is lower than that observed with elevated CA 125 antigen levels, the false-positive rate is significantly low in the sialyl SSEA-1 test. Serial sialyl SSEA-1 antigen levels obtained during follow-up were strong predictors of clinical outcome. The combined determination possible with sialyl SSEA-1 and CA 125 did not markedly increase the detection rate because of the overlap in the positivity. However, increased levels of both serum sialyl SSEA-1 antigen and CA 125 antigen indicated the presence of malignancies in pregnant women associated with ovarian tumors.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cystadenocarcinoma; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Radioimmunoassay