lewis-y-antigen and Uterine-Cervical-Dysplasia

The carbohydrate molecules Sialyl Lewis X (SLeX), Sialyl Lewis A (SLeA), Lewis Y (LeY) and Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF) are known to mediate the adhesion between tumor cells and endothelium. They are used as serum markers in diagnosis and treatment in a broad spectrum of human carcinomas, but their expression profile and role in the development of cervical cancer remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of SLeX, SLeA, LeY and TF in normal cervical squamous epithelium, cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. Slides of paraffin-embedded tissue were fixed and incubated with monoclonal antibodies against SLeX, SLeA, LeY and TF. Immunohistochemical staining was evaluated by using a semi-quantitative score (IRS Score). We found a significant difference of SLeA expression in invasive cervical cancer compared to normal epithelium (p=0.006) and all grades of dysplasia (p=0.002). The expression of SLeX in normal epithelium was less intense than in carcinoma in situ (p=0.036). Staining for LeY showed the weakest results of the investigated markers. Significant differences were found when normal epithelium was compared to CIN I (p=0.011), to CIN II (p=0.013) and to invasive cervical cancer (p=0.005). For TF, significant differences were found in normal epithelium compared to CIN I (p=0.011), CIN II (p=0.013) and compared to invasive cervical cancer (p=0.005). This is the first study on the expression of SLeA, SLeX, LeY and TF in normal cervical endothelium, cervical dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical cancer. Further studies and higher numbers are desirable.

Topics: Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-19-9 Antigen; Cervix Uteri; Epithelial Cells; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Oligosaccharides; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The natural history and biological behavior of adenocarcinoma and related lesion of the uterine cervix remain controversial issues, but the dynamic alterations in glycosylation in the cancer cells are well known. Recently, it was recently documented that the Ley antigen might be correlated with apoptosis. Over the past eight years, we have encountered 12 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma (AD), 11 cases of early adenocarcinoma (early AD) including 6 adenocarcinoma in situ and 5 microinvasive adenocarcinoma, 16 cases of endocervical glandular dysplasia (EGD) and 10 patients with normal endocervix (control) among 2,165 postoperative cases. Immunohistochemical localizations of Le(y), sialyl Le(x) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antigens were examined in serial sections. The localization of Le(y) antigen was predominant in the subcolumnar reserve cells in controls. The localization of sialyl Le(x) was predominant in the perinuclear portion of cells in cases of EGD. The localization of EGFR was presented in cases of tubal metaplasia, tubal type EGD, early AD and AD. These antigens were present in cases of EGD, early AD and AD, with AD cases showing the highest concentrations. To conclude, the presence of the Le(y) antigen might be correlated with differentiation, development and oncogenesis rather than with apoptosis in these lesions, EGD might indicate a precancerous lesion, and localization of the EGFR antigen indicates that tubal metaplasia, tubal type EGD, early AD and AD may have a common origin.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Apoptosis; Autoantigens; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Middle Aged; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms