[Clinical significance of tumor associated antigen TA-4 in gynecologic tumors].

Serum levels of TA-4, a tumor associated antigen of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, were measured in various gynecologic tumors with a RIA kit (DAINABOT). Immunohistochemical localization of TA-4 was also evaluated in the squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Serum TA-4 levels were elevated in 8.3% of patients with CIS, in 25% with stage Ia, in 56% with stage Ib, in 83% with stage II, in 75% with stage III and IV and in 100% with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, respectively. No patients were positive for TA-4 in endometrial and ovarian cancers. Serum TA-4 levels declined distinctively after treatment in accordance with the disappearance of initial tumors in some patients with advanced carcinoma. TA-4 was demonstrated immunohistochemically in 2 out of 8 CIS, 3 out of 8 microinvasive carcinoma, 4 out of 4 keratinizing type, 7 out of 7 large cell type and 3 out of 6 small cell type of invasive squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. In each type of carcinoma, TA-4 was positive in the differentiated cells. Similarly, it was found in the differentiated layers of normal squamous epithelium excluding the immature cells of the basal layer.