A metastasis-associated antigen is present on a 60 kDa glycoprotein in transitional cell carcinoma of the human urinary bladder.

We have previously shown that the degree of expression of Lex-related carbohydrate epitopes, namely, Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA) receptors, SSEA-1 and FH6, correlates with the metastatic potential of transitional cell carcinoma of the human urinary bladder. In an effort to obtain a better reagent with which to detect a metastasis-associated epitope, monoclonal antibodies were produced against LTA receptors from BOY bladder carcinoma cells. One antigen defined by such a monoclonal antibody, MM4, indeed showed better correlation with the metastatic potential of the tumour than did other carbohydrate markers. In the LTA receptors, MM4 antigen was located only on a 60 kDa glycoprotein. In extracts from primary carcinomas and lymph node metastases, the 60 kDa glycoprotein was the principal carrier of MM4 antigen. LTA receptors from these sources were composed of arrays of glycoproteins, while the 60 kDa one was invariably present. Metastasis-associated carbohydrate epitopes on the 60 kDa glycoprotein may promote metastasis by interaction with carbohydrate-recognizing proteins such as selectins on host cells.