Histological and immunohistological studies on gastric mucosa. I. The presence of CEA in dysplastic surface epithelium.

Surface and foveolar gastric cells (SE) of 74 gastric resection specimens were studied by classical and indirect immunoenzyme histology. Immunoadsorbed CEA-antibodies reacting only with the specific determinant of of the CEA molecule were applied. The following SE types with different CEA distribution patterns were observed: Type SE-O, no CEA, normal neutral mucosubstances (MCS); type SE-A, CEA present in the lower half of the SE, important decrease of MCS, mild cell dysplasia by conventional criteria; type SE-B, CEA present in the total cell, absence of MCS, moderate until marked dysplasia; type SE-C, CEA present or decreased, absence of MCS, very important cell dysplasia resembling cancer cells. CEA proved to be useful as marker for the degree of SE dysplasia.