Expression of sialosyl-Tn antigen (monoclonal antibody MLS102 reactive) in normal tissues and malignant tumors of the digestive tract.

Oncogenic transformation is often associated with changes in the glycosylation state of malignant cells. We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of sialosyl-Tn antigen [O-linked NeuAc(alpha 2-->6)GAINAc] using a novel monoclonal antibody MLS102 in normal and malignant digestive-tract tissues. In normal tissues, weak MLS102 immunoreactivity was observed in the epithelium of the esophagus, stomach and colon. However, MLS102 immunoreactivity was strong in the goblet cells of the duodenum, but not in the Brunner glands. In carcinomas of the esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas and biliary tract, positive staining was detected with a high frequency (80%-100%). In mucinous carcinomas and signet-ring cell carcinomas, malignant cells themselves and the mucins they secreted were strongly positive for sialosyl-Tn antigen. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of expression of sialosyl-Tn antigen and the degree of differentiation (grade). However, in the case of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, sialosyl-Tn antigen was found mainly in the supranuclear areas (Golgi area), on the apical surface and in the adjacent cytoplasm. In poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, the antigen was often detected in the whole plasma membrane and cytoplasm. Therefore, monoclonal antibody MLS102 may be useful in further elucidating the characteristics of digestive-tract cancers, and possibly in their treatment.