Selection of tumor antigens as targets for immune attack using immunohistochemistry: II. Blood group-related antigens

Shengle Zhang, Helen S. Zhang, Carlos Cordon-Cardo, Victor E. Reuter, Anil K. Singhal, Kenneth O. Lloyd, Philip O. Livingston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

224 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blood group-related antigens have been attractive targets for immunotherapy of cancer since their initial identification as cancer-related antigens. However, available information on the relative expression of most of these antigens on human malignant and normal tissues has been insufficient for selecting optimal antigens and tumors for immune attack. In this study, the distribution of the blood group-related antigens TF, Tn, sTn, Lea, sialyl Lea, Leb, Le(x), sialyl Le(x), polyfucosyl Le(x) and Le(y) on 13 types of cancer and 16 normal tissues was compared. Our results show that sTn is strongly expressed on cancers of breast, colon, stomach, ovary, prostate and uterus; Tn on prostate cancer; TF on cancers of breast, colon, ovary, prostate and uterus; Le(y) on the cancers of colon, lung, pancreas and ovary; Lea and Le(x) on gastric cancer; and sialyl Lea and sialyl Le(x) on colon cancer. The complete absence of these antigens on cancers of neuroectodermal or mesodermal origin including melanoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma and B cell lymphoma is as striking as their widespread presence on tumors of epithelial origin. Normal tissues were also tested. Tn and Leb were only detected on gastric and ovarian epithelia; sTn on Leydig cells of testis in addition to gastric and ovarian epithelia; Le(x) and sialyl Le(x) on polymorphonuclear leukocytes; and TF, Lea, sialyl Lea, Le(x), sialyl Le(x), polyfucosyl Le(x) and Le(y) on epithelia from a variety of tissues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-56
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Volume73
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Selection of tumor antigens as targets for immune attack using immunohistochemistry: II. Blood group-related antigens'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this