The disappearance of ABO(
H) blood group antigens seen in the lesions of
carcinoma of the uterine cervix has been studied by the
Avidin-
Biotin-Complex (ABC) method and the results have been correlated with histology and prognosis. The incidence of cases showing complete loss of A or B
antigens was increased with progression in the pathological picture of
cancer, whereas
H antigen, known as precursor
carbohydrate chains of A and B
antigens, was still sustained even in most cases of invasive
cancer. In the tissue of invasive
cancer, the complete loss of
H antigen was easily able to be demonstrated in the small cell non-keratinizing type of
carcinoma, but it is hardly able to be seen in the large cell non-keratinizing type and not demonstrated in the keratinizing type of
carcinoma. Though no relationship was recognized between the disappearance of A, B or H
antigens and parametrial spread of
carcinoma or
metastasis to the pelvic lymphnodes, the incidence of patients who died within two years after operation was apparently higher in the
H antigen negative group than in the
H antigen positive group. It is concluded that the disappearance of A or B
antigen may correlate with the invasiveness of the cancerous lesion, while that of the
H antigen may reflect the grade of dedifferentiation of the
neoplasia with the implication of an unfavorable prognosis.