Purification of human intestinal goblet cell antigen (GOA), its immunohistological demonstration in the intestine and in mucus producing gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.

Goblet cell antigen (GOA) was purified from gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. It was immunogenic and was used to produced antisera which stained goblet cells of the small and large intestine and of intestinalized gastric mucosa by indirect immunological methods. Various types of gastric and colonic cancer contained GOA. These findings demonstrate a histiogenic relationship between intestinal goblet cells, various gastrointestinal cancers and associated premalignant conditions.