Selection of tumor antigens as targets for immune attack using immunohistochemistry: II. Blood group-related antigens

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Abstract
Blood group‐related antigens have been attractive targets for immunotherapy of cancer since their initial identification as cancer‐related antigens. However, available information on the relative expression of most of these antigens on human malignant and normal tissues has been insufficient for selecting optimal antigens and tumors for immune attack. In this study, the distribution of the blood group‐related antigens TF, Tn, sTn, Lea, sialyl Lea, Leb, Lex, sialyl Lex, polyfucosyl Lex and Ley on 13 types of cancer and 16 normal tissues was compared. Our results show that sTn is strongly expressed on cancers of breast, colon, stomach, ovary, prostate and uterus; Tn on prostate cancer; TF on cancers of breast, colon, ovary, prostate and uterus; Ley on the cancers of colon, lung, pancreas and ovary; Lea and Lex on gastric cancer; and sialyl Lea and sialyl Lex on colon cancer. The complete absence of these antigens on cancers of neuroectodermal or mesodermal origin including melanoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma and B cell lymphoma is as striking as their widespread presence on tumors of epithelial origin. Normal tissues were also tested. Tn and Leb were only detected on gastric and ovarian epithelia; sTn on Leydig cells of testis in addition to gastric and ovarian epithelia; Lex and sialyl Lex on polymorphonuclear leukocytes; and TF, Lea, sialyl Lea, Lex, sialyl Lex, polyfucosyl Lex and Ley on epithelia from a variety of tissues. Int. J. Cancer 73:50–56, 1997.

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