Isoantigen loss in cervical neoplasia. Demonstration by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques.

Tissue sections from normal uterine cervix and from uterine cervices with dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive cancer were studied in 70 instances using immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques for demonstrating the presence of isoantigens A and B. Isoantigens were demonstrated in normal squamous epithelium. Antigens were lost in foci of invasive cancer, were considerably reduced or lost in areas of classic carcinoma in situ in all cases, and were reduced in most cases of dysplasia. These observations confirm those obtained with the specific red cell adherence test. The results suggest that immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques are sensitive, reproducible, easily performed methods for demonstrating the loss of isoantigens in cervical neoplasia.