Howard D R, Ferguson P, Batsakis J G
Cancer. 1981 Jun 15;47(12):2872-7. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19810615)47:12<2872::aid-cncr2820471220>3.0.co;2-s.
Tumor cell membrane glycoproteins may be involved in the induction of tumor immunity or in the escape of tumors from immunologic defense mechanisms. Previous investigations have suggested a role for blood group antigens and their precursors, in the generation of the immune response to neoplasia. In this study, 44 benign and malignant breast lesions were examined for the presence of a carbohydrate precursor antigen (T-antigen) of the human blood group system MN. T-antigen was demonstrated using an immunohistochemical technique to detect tissue binding of a plant lectin (PNA) with specificity for T-antigen. Of the 22 benign breast lesions examined, 19 showed T-antigen present along the luminal cytoplasmic membrane and occasionally on intraluminal secretions. T-antigen, as demonstrated by lectin binding, was confined to this region in all benign lesions except one, which also showed cytoplasmic positivity. Malignant breast lesions showed a pattern of T-antigen expression markedly different from that of benign breast tissues. Of 22 breast carcinomas, 17 showed diffuse cytoplasmic T-antigen. Five carcinomas showed no evidence of T-antigen by this technique. These malignancies tended to be the most poorly differentiated when judged by histologic criteria. A possible role for T-antigen in the modulation of the immune response to breast carcinoma is suggested.
肿瘤细胞膜糖蛋白可能参与肿瘤免疫的诱导过程，或参与肿瘤逃避免疫防御机制。先前的研究表明血型抗原及其前体在肿瘤免疫反应的产生中发挥作用。在本研究中，对44例乳腺良恶性病变进行检查，以检测人类MN血型系统的一种碳水化合物前体抗原（T抗原）。使用免疫组织化学技术检测对T抗原有特异性的植物凝集素（PNA）与组织的结合，以此来证实T抗原的存在。在所检查的22例乳腺良性病变中，19例显示T抗原存在于管腔细胞质膜上，偶尔也存在于管腔内分泌物中。通过凝集素结合证实，除1例同时显示细胞质阳性的病变外，所有良性病变中的T抗原均局限于该区域。乳腺恶性病变显示出的T抗原表达模式与乳腺良性组织明显不同。在22例乳腺癌中，17例显示弥漫性细胞质T抗原。5例癌在该技术检测下未显示T抗原证据。根据组织学标准判断，这些恶性肿瘤往往分化最差。这表明T抗原在调节乳腺癌免疫反应中可能发挥作用。
