Histologic Demonstration of Antigens Reactive With Anti-p21 ras Monoclonal Antibody (RAP-5) in Human Stomach Cancers2

Abstract
The immunohistochemical reactivity of RAP-5, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to positions 10–17 of the ras gene product from T24 bladder carcinoma, was studied in 96 surgically resected stomach cancers of humans. The cytoplasm of cancer cells in 65 cases (68%) was positively stained with MoAb RAP-5, although the staining was heterogeneous among cancer cells. There was no definite correlation between depth of tumor invasion and reactivity to MoAb RAP-5. Cancer cells of poorly differentiated tumors showed a tendency to react less frequently and less intensely to MoAb RAP-5. In nontumorous gastric mucosa, parietal cells and some portions of intestinal metaplasia were stained with MoAb RAP-5. These findings suggest an increased expression of the ras gene product (p21) in about two-thirds of gastric adenocarcinomas and in some nonneoplastic gastric epithelial cells.