The presence and distribution of
mucins,
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and mucus-associated
antigens M1, M2, and M3 were investigated in 22 normal endocervices, 25 normal endometria, 25 endocervical
adenocarcinomas, and 32 endometrial
adenocarcinomas to determine their contribution in the differential diagnosis of endocervical and endometrial
adenocarcinoma. Sections of
formalin-fixed
paraffin-embedded tissues were stained with conventional histochemical stains such as d-PAS and
Alcian blue to investigate the distribution of
mucins. For the demonstration of CEA and the mucus-associated
antigens an indirect immunoperoxidase technique was used. In the present study d-PAS and
Alcian blue stains, as well as immunohistochemistry of CEA, did not contribute to the discrimination between
adenocarcinomas of the endocervix and endometrium. Immunohistochemistry of mucus-associated
antigens showed a positive reaction of M3 in the majority (68%) of the endocervical
carcinomas. In contrast, if foci of endocervical-type
metaplasia were excluded, M3 was absent in
tumor cell cytoplasm of endometrial
adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, the expression of M2 without the presence of the other mucus
antigens in
tumor cell cytoplasm, as seen in 24% of the endometrial
adenocarcinomas, was never found in endocervical
adenocarcinomas.