Are blood group isoantigens lost from malignant prostatic epithelium? Immunohistochemical support for the preservation of the H isoantigen

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 307 - 312
• Main Authors: VOWDEN, P, LOWE, A. D, LENNOX, E. S, BLEEHEN, N. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.03.1986
• Subjects: ABO Blood-Group System; Adenocarcinoma - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Group Antigens - immunology; Epithelium - immunology; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Isoantigens - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prostatic Hyperplasia - immunology; Prostatic Neoplasms - immunology; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Immunopathology; Blood group; Urinary system disease; ABO(H)-System; Loss; Tumor; Prostate; Isoantigen
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1986.53

Previous studies while demonstrating the presence of blood group isoantigens on normal prostatic epithelium have failed to identify such antigens on malignant prostatic tissue. Using a series of blood group specific monoclonal antibodies directed towards the A, B, H and Y antigens we have reinvestigated blood group isoantigen expression in both benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostatic adenocarcinoma. Results obtained from areas of benign prostatic hypertrophy are in broad agreement with those published however though we were unable to detect either A or B blood group isoantigens Type 2H and Y isoantigens were identified in 10 of the 12 tumours. These findings, while differing from previously reported results, lend support to the suggested connection between ontogenesis, oncogenesis and blood group isoantigen expression and also support the proposed link between Type 2 structures and malignant transformation.