The 17-1A antigen is expressed on primary, metastatic and disseminated non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Abstract

In view of the high incidence of early distant tumor relapses in apparently completely resected (R0, M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there is a need for an adjuvant therapy. Considering the low tumor burden in these patients, an adjuvant therapy with monoclonal antibodies (i.e., the 17-1A MAb) might be appropriate. The purpose of our study was to test whether the 17-1A antigen is expressed on primary and metastatic NSCLC carcinoma cells. Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of 17-1A was analysed in primary tumors (n = 60) and in lymph node metastases (n = 7) of patients with NSCLC. Additionally, we investigated in 6 patients the expression of 17-1A on disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow, which were detected by the pan-cytokeratin MAb A45-B/B3 using a double-labeling technique. The 17-1A antigen was homogeneously expressed in 47 (78.3%) out of 60 primary NSCLCs. The expression of 17-1A was independent from the tumor histology, the grade of differentiation, and other clinicopathological parameters (ploidy status, TNM-stage). Lymph node metastases were positive in 4 (57.4%) out of 7 cases. The double-labeling experiments demonstrated that 17-1A is coexpressed on disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow in 5 (83%) out of 6 patients. The 17-1A antigen is expressed on the majority of primary, metastatic, and disseminated NSCLC cells. Patients with 17-1A-positive tumors might benefit from an adjuvant therapy with MAb 17-1A after completely resected NSCLC.

• Authors: B Passlick, W Sienel, R Seen-Hibler, W Wöckel, O Thetter, K Pantel
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 87 Issue 4 Pg. 548-52 (Aug 15 2000) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10918196 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• carcinoma-associated antigen 17-1A

Topics

• Antigens, Neoplasm (biosynthesis)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (biosynthesis)
• Bone Marrow Neoplasms (immunology, pathology, secondary)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (immunology)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lung Neoplasms (immunology)
• Lymph Nodes (immunology, pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis