Abstract
The reaction patterns of eight antibodies directed against blood group substances A, B and H, respectively, against Lewis B antigen, difucosylated carbohydrate antigens (DFCA), gastrointestinal cancer antigen CA 19-9 (GICA), carcinoma-associated antigen CA-50 and CEA, were studied in 68 rectal carcinomas using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. A pronounced intratumoral antigenic heterogeneity was revealed for most antigens. It thus became evident that an interpretation based upon small preoperative biopsies would be inaccurate. The overall proportion of positive carcinoma cells, however, did not vary much between larger samples taken postoperatively from different regions of the tumours. The intertumoral antigenic variability was also considerable: nearly all tumours had an individual immunohistochemical profile according to the proportions of positive cells. Heterogeneous staining patterns were also present within metastases, and lymph node metastases from the primary tumour in some cases differed completely from each other. The staining pattern did not correlate with Dukes' stage, and degree of differentiation; the expression of any individual antigen, or several antigens in combination.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Enblad, P., Glimelius, B., Busch, C. et al. Antigenic heterogeneity and individuality in adenocarcinomas of the rectum and their secondaries. Br J Cancer 55, 503–508 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1987.102
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1987.102
This article is cited by
-
An immunohistochemical study of the distribution of blood group substances and related antigens in primary colorectal carcinomas and metastatic lymph node and liver lesions, using monoclonal antibodies against A, B, H type 2, Lea, and Lex antigens
Journal of Gastroenterology (1994)
-
Heterogeneity in antigenic expression and radiosensitivity in human colon carcinoma cell lines
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal (1991)
-
Homogeneous penetration but heterogeneous binding of antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen in human colon carcinoma HT-29 spheroids
Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy (1989)
-
The expression of carcinoma-associated antigens and blood-group-related antigens in rectal carcinoids
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum (1988)