TY - JOUR

T1 - Simple mucin-type Tn and sialosyl-Tn carbohydrate antigens in salivary gland carcinomas

AU - Therkildsen, M H

AU - Mandel, U

AU - Christensen, M

AU - Dabelsteen, E

PY - 1993/8/15

Y1 - 1993/8/15

N2 - BACKGROUND: Neoplastic transformation is associated frequently with changes in the glycosylation process. Simple mucin-type glycosylation in cancer cells has been found to be characterized by incomplete synthesis with precursor accumulation, leading to the exposure of the structures Tn and sialosyl-Tn, which are normally cryptic in human cells and secretions, including saliva and salivary glands.METHODS: Paraffin sections from 50 salivary gland carcinomas of different histologic types were investigated with immunohistologic studies and a panel of monoclonal antibodies with well-defined specificity for Tn and sialosyl-Tn.RESULTS: Tn and sialosyl-Tn antigens were expressed in the cytoplasm of glandular differentiated cells; in the luminal membranes and mucinous content of the glandular differentiated areas in almost all mucoepidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas; and in carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma, when the malignant component was an adenocarcinoma. In contrast, acinic cell carcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas expressed only minimal amounts of Tn and sialosyl-Tn, and the staining was seen only in relation to the luminal membrane and mucin of a few glandular structures.CONCLUSIONS: Mucin-type Tn and sialosyl-Tn may be regarded as markers of a glandular differentiation pattern in salivary gland carcinomas. The cellular location of the antigen-antibody complex indicates that they are synthesized and secreted from the tumor cells into saliva or serum.

AB - BACKGROUND: Neoplastic transformation is associated frequently with changes in the glycosylation process. Simple mucin-type glycosylation in cancer cells has been found to be characterized by incomplete synthesis with precursor accumulation, leading to the exposure of the structures Tn and sialosyl-Tn, which are normally cryptic in human cells and secretions, including saliva and salivary glands.METHODS: Paraffin sections from 50 salivary gland carcinomas of different histologic types were investigated with immunohistologic studies and a panel of monoclonal antibodies with well-defined specificity for Tn and sialosyl-Tn.RESULTS: Tn and sialosyl-Tn antigens were expressed in the cytoplasm of glandular differentiated cells; in the luminal membranes and mucinous content of the glandular differentiated areas in almost all mucoepidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas; and in carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma, when the malignant component was an adenocarcinoma. In contrast, acinic cell carcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas expressed only minimal amounts of Tn and sialosyl-Tn, and the staining was seen only in relation to the luminal membrane and mucin of a few glandular structures.CONCLUSIONS: Mucin-type Tn and sialosyl-Tn may be regarded as markers of a glandular differentiation pattern in salivary gland carcinomas. The cellular location of the antigen-antibody complex indicates that they are synthesized and secreted from the tumor cells into saliva or serum.

KW - Adenocarcinoma

KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal

KW - Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate

KW - Carcinoma

KW - Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic

KW - Humans

KW - Mucins

KW - Salivary Gland Neoplasms

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8393363

VL - 72

SP - 1147

EP - 1154

JO - Cancer

JF - Cancer

SN - 0008-543X

IS - 4

ER -