CEA, ZGM AND EMA LOCALIZATION IN CELLS OF PLEURAL AND PERITONEAL EFFUSION - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 3  (3) , 251-258
Abstract
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the zinc glycinate marker (ZGM) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were described as epithelial or tumor markers of varying specificity. These antigens were studied by immunoperoxidase localization in selected cell blocks of 62 pleural or peritoneal effusions and compared to cytological findings and review of the clinical records. By cytological criteria, 25 of the cell blocks were positive for malignancy, 30 were negative and 7 were inconclusive. CEA, ZGM and EMA were localized on the cell surface and often in the cytoplasm of malignant cells in 11/25 (44%), 17/25 (68%) and 22/25 (88%) of the positive cell blocks, respectively. Ten (40%) of these cases were positive for all 3 antigens, 7 (28%) for 2, and 6 (24%) for 1. Of the 7 cases which were inconclusive on routine cytological reporting, 5 were positive for at least 1 marker. In 3 of the 5 a diagnosis of malignancy was confirmed, and in the other 2 was strongly suspected as malignant on clinical grounds. Macrophages were sometimes positive for 1 or more markers (but showed cytoplasmic staining only) and mesothelial cells in some cases stained positively for EMA but were always negative for CEA and ZGM. Localization of the 3 antigens in cells of malignant effusions was compared with their localization in the primary tumors in 9 cases. Localization corresponded for CEA in 7 of 9 cases, for EMA in 8 of 8 and for ZGM in only 2 of 9. Effusion fluid levels for CEA were compared with the cytological and immunocytochemical findings in 30 cases. Mucin stains performed on the cell blocks were also compared with the immunoperoxidase findings.

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