Abnormal topological distribution of surface glycoprotein on neoplastic epithelial cells.

Immunohistochemically, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was found at the apex and secretory component (SC) on the basal lateral surface of normal colonic epithelial cells. On neoplastic colon cells, both glycoproteins when present were distributed all around the cells. Little or no CEA and SC were found on normal gastric epithelial cells. CEA and SC appeared on intestinal metaplastic cells in a pattern similar to that of the normal colonic epithelium. In gastric carcinoma, both glycoproteins when present were found all around the neoplastic cells. The observations suggest that neoplastic transformation of epithelial cells is accompanied by a loss of the normal polar distribution of surface glycoproteins.