Modulation of the antigenicity of amylase in cervical glandular atypia, adenocarcinoma in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma.

Using a polyclonal anti-salivary alpha-amylase antibody and a biotin-avidin-peroxidase detection system immunoreactive amylase was detected in 39/40 cases of invasive cervical adenocarcinoma, 6/7 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ, 6/6 cases of high-grade cervical glandular atypia and 12/14 cases of low-grade cervical glandular atypia. Expression was seen in only 2/18 normal endocervices and this was weak and patchy. In contrast, strong amylase activity was demonstrated in 18/18 normal endocervices using a starch film assay on frozen sections. It is proposed that antigenic modulation of amylase occurs during endocervical neoplastic transformation.