Accumulation of a blood group antigen precursor in oral premalignant lesions.

Abstract

Epithelial cell membrane-bound blood group antigens A and B are lost in premalignant and malignant oral lesions. We now show that this loss in premalignant lesions is accompanied by accumulation of a blood group antigen precursor. The precursor structures were: type 2 chain H-antigen, Fuc alpha 1 leads to 2 Gal beta 1 leads to 4 GlcNAc-R (A and B precursor); and N-acetyllactosamine, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-R (H-precursor), in which Fuc is L-fucose, Gal is galactose, and GIcNAc is N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. They were demonstrated in tissue sections by immunohistochemical staining techniques with monoclonal antibodies to H-antigen and N-acetyllactosamine. Precursors were found only on basal and suprabasal cells of normal mucosa. In all nine of ten premalignant lesions, the H-antigen was found on all cell membranes in the epithelium, in higher titers than in normal adjacent epithelium. Ten carcinomas were studied, and all showed an irregular distribution of H-antigen. N-Acetyllactosamine was not found in premalignant or malignant lesions. The accumulation of type 2 chain H-antigen in oral premalignant lesions may prove helpful in early diagnosis of epithelial cancer.

• Authors: E Dabelsteen, P Vedtofte, S Hakomori, W W Young Jr
• Journal: Cancer research (Cancer Res) Vol. 43 Issue 3 Pg. 1451-4 (Mar 1983) ISSN: 0008-5472 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6825113 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Amino Sugars
• Antibodies
• N-acetyllactosamine

Topics

• ABO Blood-Group System (immunology)
• Amino Sugars (immunology)
• Antibodies (analysis)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (immunology)
• Humans
• Mouth Neoplasms (immunology)
• Precancerous Conditions (immunology)