Expression of Lewis^a, Sialyl Lewis^a, Lewis^x and Silayl Lewis^x Antigens with Prognosis of Human Rectal Carcinoma

Takamori Nakayama^{1), 2)}, Masahiko Watanabe¹⁾, Takao Katsumata¹⁾, Tatsuo Teramoto¹⁾, Masaki Kitajima¹⁾

¹⁾Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio Universiy
²⁾Department of Surgery, Kanagawa National Hospital

The present study investigated the expression of cancer-associated carbohydrate antigens in rectal carcinoma and determined whether expression of antigens was correlated with the prognosis. One hundred and five primary rectal carcinoma (mp ss and al) and 124 metastatic lymph nodes were obtained from patients undergoing curative surgery between 1981 and 1988. Immunohistochemical studies were performed using monoclonal antibodies to the carbohydrate antigens (Lewis^a, sialyl Lewis^a, Lewis^x and sialyl Lewis^x). Expression of sialyl Lewis^a (SLA) in primary tumors correlated with lymph node metastasis (p<0.025) and recurrence (p<0.005). SLA in the metastatic lymph nodes was also correlated with recurrence (p<0.05). Analysis of survival indicated a statistically significant difference between patients with and without SLA in both the primary tumor (p<0.001) and metastatic lymph nodes (p<0.05). Other carbohydrate antigens failed to demonstrate these associations. These results demonstraed the significance of SLA in colorectal carcinoma in association with evaluating the prognosis of patients.

Key words
rectal carcinoma, carbohydorade antigen, immunohistochemistory, tumor marker, sialyl Lewis^a

Reprint requests
Masahiko Watanabe Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University
35 Sinanomachi, Sinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160 JAPAN

Accepted
October 12, 1994

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