A new murine monoclonal antibody, CMU10, as a marker for colonic carcinoma and precancerous conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the usefulness of a cancer-associated mucin antigen using a new monoclonal antibody, CMU10, as a tumor marker. Expression was assessed in normal adult, fetal, hyperplastic, preneoplastic, and neoplastic tissues of colon.

DESIGN

CMU10 monoclonal antibody recognizes a mucin antigen that is not expressed in normal fetal and adult large intestine, but is rather commonly expressed in cancerous and precancerous lesions. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed on human tissues obtained at surgery or at autopsy.

RESULTS

Expression of this mucin antigen was observed in 27 (98.4%) of 28 cases of colorectal carcinoma, 24 (96%) of 25 cases of adenomatous polyps, 9 (75%) of 12 cases of ulcerative colitis, and 9 (100%) of 9 cases of hyperplastic polyps. In cancerous specimens, the antigen distribution was mainly localized in the secretory mucin and surface membrane, whereas in precancerous lesions it was located in dysplastic, dilated, and distorted crypts.

CONCLUSIONS

Because CMU10 differentially recognizes an antigen in cancerous and precancerous tissues, but not in normal tissues, it may be useful as a tumor marker for immunodiagnosis and, hence, early detection.