Prognostic value of Le(y) and H antigens in oral tongue carcinomas.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the prognostic significance of the carbohydrate epitopes H and Le(y) and their relationship with proliferation and apoptosis.

STUDY DESIGN:

Eighty randomly selected patients with T1-T4 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were studied. Serial sections were cut from diagnostic, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens.

METHODS:

Sections were stained immunohistochemically for H antigen and Le(y).

RESULTS:

Expression of H antigen was associated positively with Le(y) expression (P = .0001). Expressions of H antigen or Le(y) correlated with the proliferative markers Ki67 (P = .0442 and P = .0003, respectively) and pAgNOR > 1 (P = .0674 and P = .0047, respectively), but not with apoptotic markers such as Bax expression or the apoptotic index (AI). Tumors that expressed H antigen and high levels of Le(y) (> 50%) had a poor prognosis (P = .0006 and P = .0056, respectively). Combinations of expression of H antigen and Le(y), and either proliferative or apoptotic markers revealed an enhanced prognostic potential (P < .0001). The combination of pAgNOR score greater than 1 and H-antigen expression appeared to be the best combination to predict good prognosis.

CONCLUSION:

The expression of H antigen and Le(y), especially their combination with proliferative or apoptotic markers, has prognostic value in tongue SCC.

• Authors: X Xie, M Boysen, O P Clausen, M A Bryne
• Journal: The Laryngoscope (Laryngoscope) Vol. 109 Issue 9 Pg. 1474-80 (Sep 1999) ISSN: 0023-852X [Print] United States
• PMID: 10499058 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Lewis Blood Group Antigens
• Lewis Y antigen

Topics

• ABO Blood-Group System (analysis)
• Apoptosis
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (blood, epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lewis Blood Group Antigens (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Random Allocation
• Tongue Neoplasms (blood, epidemiology)