Immunological Study of Polyps of the Colon

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Abstract
Twenty-five polyps of the colon of various histological types were studied by immunofluorescence. In every polyp, either solitary or coming from a multiple polyposis, associated or not with a cancer of the colon, the immunological findings were the same: more or less important decrease of the normal cytoplasmic antigens; decrease or apparent lack of the normal antigen of the plasmic membranes of the colonic cells; presence of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of the gastrointestinal cancers. This presence was confirmed by the precipitation reaction obtained between a monospecific anti-CEA antiserum and the perchloric extract of a pool of benign polyps. These findings were observed in all polyps, independently of their state of differentiation. From a quantitative point of view, the CEA and the cytoplasmic normal antigens were more abundant in the differentiated polyps than in the undifferentiated ones. No indication on the prognosis of the polyps could be obtained from these immunological studies. The presence of the CEA can be observed in noncancerous intestinal mucosa including that of hemorrhoids.

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