The expression of fucosylated type 2 blood group chains in human breast and their significance.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against O(H) blood group antigen and 3-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine have been used to investigate the incidence and significance of these type 2 blood group chains in non-malignant and malignant human breast tissue. The findings have been compared with those obtained with the fucose-binding lectins, Ulex europeus I and Lotus tetragonolobus. The expression of O(H) antigen in non-malignant breast is heterogeneous and shows no relationship to blood group status. Its expression in carcinomas shows no relationship to prognostic parameters such as differentiation and node status, whereas loss of Ulex europeus I binding is related to metastasis. The presence of 3-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine is limited in non-malignant breast, apart from pregnancy, but in carcinomas shows a relationship to differentiation, a feature not seen with fucose-binding lectins. It is apparent that to obtain the maximum amount of information about the modifications occurring in fuco-substances that appear to be of significance in breast malignancy, it is important to use monospecific probes as well as reagents with broader specificities, such as lectins.