Abstract
The immunohistochemical expression of blood-group substances and carcinoma-associated antigens were cmpared in rectal carcinoids and adenocarcinomas. Rectal carcinoid tumors, in contrast to rectal carcinomas, were consistently negative for CEA, gastrointestinal cancer antigen GICA (or CA 19-9), and carcinoma-associated antigen CA-50 (except in one case where <10 percent of the cells expressed CA-50). The carcinoids and rectal carcinomas extensively expressed blood-group substance A, B, and H, Lewis B antigen, and difucosylated carbohydrate antigens (DFCA). Thus, rectal carcinoids and adenocarcinomas possess both similar and different tumor antigen profiles. The occurrence of discrepant antigen determinants may be used in the differential diagnosis of these two types of tumors. The coexpression of blood-group substance A, B, and H, Lewis B antigen, and DFCA is consistent with the opinion that both rectal carcinomas and carcinoids have a common entoderm origin, but carcinoids are considered to rise from the endocrine-differentiated and the adenocarcinomas from the nonendocrine-differentiated enterocytes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Soga J. Carcinoids of the rectum. Tumors of the carcinoid family—urgut endocrinomas. Acta Med Biol 1982;29:157–201.
Williams ED, Sandler M. The classification of carcinoid tumours. Lancet 1963;1:238–9.
Hosoda S, Kito H, Nogaki M, Masumori S, Ito S. Is rectal carcinoid argyrophilic? Application of Grimelius' silver nitrate stain in four cases. Dis Colon Rectum 1975;18:386–90.
Wilander E, Portela-Gomes G, Grimelius L, Westermark P. Argentaffin and argyrophil reactions of human gastrointestinal carcinoids. Gastroenterology 1977;73:733–6.
Wilander E, Portela-Gomes G, Grimelius L, Lundqvist G, Skoog V. Enteroglucagon and substance P-like immunoreactivity in argentaffin and argyrophil rectal carcinoids. Virchows Arch [Cell Pathol] 1977;25:117–24.
Alumets J, Alm P, Falkmer S, et al. Immunohistochemical evidence of peptide hormones in endocrine tumors of the rectum. Cancer 1981;48:2409–15.
O'Briain DS, Dayal Y, DeLellis RA, Tischler AS, Bendon R, Wolfe HJ. Rectal carcinoids as tumors of the hindgut endocrine cells: a morphological and immunohistochemical analysis. Am J Surg Pathol 1982;6:131–42.
Enblad P, Glimelius B, Busch C, Ponten J, Påhlman L. Antigenic heterogeneity and individuality in adenocarcinomas of the rectum and their secondaries. Br J Cancer 1987;55:503–8.
Grimelius L. A silver nitrate stain for a2 cells in human pancreatic islets. Acta Soc Med Uppsala 1968;73:243–70.
Sternberger LA. Immunocytochemistry. 2nd ed. New York. John Wiley & Sons, 1979;1–354.
Lloyd RV, Wilson BS. Specific endocrine tissue marker defined by a monoclonal antibody. Science 1983;222:628–30.
Enblad P, Glimelius B, Busch C, et al. Comparative immunohistochemical demonstration of difucosylated carbohydrate antigens and CEA in adenomas and carcinomas of the rectum and rectosigmoid. Anticancer Res 1986;6:139–46.
Hammarström S. Chemistry and immunology of CEA, CA 19-9 and CA-50. In: Holmgren J, ed. Tumor marker antigens: properties and usefulness of carcinoma associated antigens CEA, CA 19-9 and CA-50. Lund: Studentlitteratur, 1985:34–51.
Magnani JL, Brockhaus M, Smith DF, et al. Monosialoganglioside is a monoclonal antibody-defined antigen of colon carcinoma. Science 1981;212:55–6.
Lindholm L, Holmgren J, Svennerholm L, et al. Monoclonal antibodies against gastrointestinal tumor-associated antigens isolated as monosialogangliosides. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1983;71:178–81.
Nilsson O, Månsson J-E, Lindholm L, Holmgren J, Svennerholm L. Sialosyllactotetraosylceramide, a novel ganglioside antigen detected in human carcinomas by a monoclonal antibody. FEBS Lett 1985;182:398–402.
Hammarström S, Engvall E, Feld S. Quantitation of CEA by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and specificity studies. In: Griffiths K, Neville AM, Pierrepoint CG, eds. Determination and clinical role. Proceedings of the Sixth Tenovus Workshop, Cardiff, April 1977. Cardiff: University Park Press, 1977:252–8.
Szulman AE. The histological distribution of the blood group substances in man as disclosed by immunofluorescence. II. The H antigen and its relation to A and B antigens. J Exp Med 1962;115:977–95.
Szulman AE, Marcus DM. The histologic distribution of the blood group substances in man as disclosed by immunofluorescence. VI. The Lea and Leb antigens during fetal development. Lab Invest 1973;28:565–74.
Ernst C, Atkinson B, Wysocka M, et al. Monoclonal antibody localization of Lewis antigens in fixed tissue. Lab Invest 1984;50:394–400.
Cooper HS, Haesler WE Jr. Blood group substances as tumor antigens in the distal colon. Am J Clin Pathol 1978;69:594–8.
Denk H, Tappeiner G, Davidovits A, Eckerstorfer R, Holzner JH. Carcinoembryonic antigen and blood group substances in carcinomas of the stomach and colon. J Natl Cancer Inst 1974;53:933–42.
Denk H, Tappeiner G, Holzner JH. Blood group substances-(BG) as carcinofetal antigens in carcinomas of the distal colon. Eur J Cancer 1974;10:487–90.
Iwafuchi M, Watanabe H, Ishihara N, Shimoda T, Iwashita A, Ito S. Peptide YY immunoreactive cells in gastrointestinal carcinoids: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies of 60 tumors. Hum Pathol 1986;17:291–96.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society (project no. 192I-B85-02XA) and the Swedish Research Council (project no. 6817)
About this article
Cite this article
Enblad, P., Wilander, E., Busch, C. et al. The expression of carcinoma-associated antigens and blood-group-related antigens in rectal carcinoids. Dis Colon Rectum 31, 450–453 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02552615
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02552615