L H Schmidt1, A Kuemmel2, C Schliemann3, A Schulze3, J Humberg3, M Mohr3, D Görlich4, W Hartmann5, S Bröckling3, A Marra6, L Hillejan6, S Goletz7, U Karsten7, W E Berdel3, T Spieker8, R Wiewrodt3. 1. Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany. Electronic address: larshenning.schmidt@ukmuenster.de. 2. Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine III, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, 55101 Mainz, Germany. 3. Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany. 4. Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany. 5. Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. 6. Chest Surgery, Klinikum St. Georg, Ostercappeln, 48179 Ostercappeln, Germany. 7. Glycotope GmbH, 13125 Berlin, Germany. 8. Institute of Pathology at the St. Franziskus Hospital Münster, 48145 Münster, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Several blood group-related carbohydrate antigens are prognosis-relevant markers of tumor tissues. A type 3 (repetitive A) is a blood group antigen specific for A1 erythrocytes. Its potential expression in tumor tissues has so far not been examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have evaluated its expression in normal lung and in lung cancer using a novel antibody (A69-A/E8). For comparison an anti-A antibody specific to A types 1 and 2 was used, because its expression on lung cancer tissue has been previously reported to be of prognostic relevance. Resected tissue samples of 398 NSCLC patients were analyzed in immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Expression of A type 3 was not observed in non-malignant lung tissues. A type 3 was expressed on tumor cells of around half of NSCLC patients of blood group A1 (p<0.001). Whereas no prognostic effect for A type 1/2 antigen was observed (p=0.562), the expression of A type 3 by tumor cells indicated a highly significant favorable prognosis among advanced NSCLC patients (p=0.011) and in NSCLC patients with lymphatic spread (p=0.014). Univariate prognostic results were confirmed in a Cox proportional hazards model. In this study we present for the first time prognostic data for A type 3 antigen expression in lung cancer patients. Prospective studies should be performed to confirm the prognostic value of A type 3 expression for an improved risk stratification in NSCLC patients.
OBJECTIVES: Several blood group-related carbohydrate antigens are prognosis-relevant markers of tumor tissues. A type 3 (repetitive A) is a blood group antigen specific for A1 erythrocytes. Its potential expression in tumor tissues has so far not been examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have evaluated its expression in normal lung and in lung cancer using a novel antibody (A69-A/E8). For comparison an anti-A antibody specific to A types 1 and 2 was used, because its expression on lung cancer tissue has been previously reported to be of prognostic relevance. Resected tissue samples of 398 NSCLCpatients were analyzed in immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Expression of A type 3 was not observed in non-malignant lung tissues. A type 3 was expressed on tumor cells of around half of NSCLCpatients of blood group A1 (p<0.001). Whereas no prognostic effect for A type 1/2 antigen was observed (p=0.562), the expression of A type 3 by tumor cells indicated a highly significant favorable prognosis among advanced NSCLCpatients (p=0.011) and in NSCLCpatients with lymphatic spread (p=0.014). Univariate prognostic results were confirmed in a Cox proportional hazards model. In this study we present for the first time prognostic data for A type 3 antigen expression in lung cancerpatients. Prospective studies should be performed to confirm the prognostic value of A type 3 expression for an improved risk stratification in NSCLCpatients.