Abstract
A monoclonal antibody detecting amniotrophoblastic antigen 5T4 has shown reactivity against various neoplastic cell lines and tumour specimens but with a relatively restricted normal tissue expression. This antibody has been investigated as a potential indicator of premalignant changes identified as cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia and malignant cervical lesions using immunohistochemistry on frozen tissue biopsies. The basal cells of normal cervical stratified epithelium exhibited faint staining, but a general increase in intensity and extent of specific labeling of this tissue was seen from the first premalignant stage through to carcinoma. In most cases, this was in accordance with the distribution of dysplastic cells, and was accompanied by increased specific staining of the stromal tissue. All invasive squamous carcinomas of the cervix were 5T4 antigen positive. Common inflammatory non-malignant diseases did show a certain degree of epithelial and stromal reactivity. These results, showing 5T4 reactivity with neoplastic and pre-neoplastic lesions, may provide a quantitative basis for its potential use as a tumour marker in the immunochemical detection on immunoassay of cervical cancer.
Highlights
Frozen cervical specimens were selected from a store at the Royal Liverpool Women's Hospital (RLWH)
On inspection, the degree of cervical intraepithelia neoplasia (CIN) did not correspond with the initial diagnosis
There was diffuse cytoplasmic labelling associated with the connective tissue stromal elements to the same degree as the basal layer: columnar epithelium and glands when present were labelled
Summary
Placental tissue was washed in PBS (phosphate buffered saline). One cm of tissue was embedded in OCT compound and snap frozen by immersing the specimen in CO2 ice with isopentane, within I h post-partum. Frozen cervical specimens were selected from a store at the Royal Liverpool Women's Hospital (RLWH) These samples, from cone or punch biopsies routinely submitted for histology, were embedded in polycel, snap frozen and stored at - 70°C. On inspection, the degree of CIN did not correspond with the initial diagnosis This was conceivable, as the area of tissue biopsy on which the diagnosis was made was in a slightly different location to that of the frozen one, and CIN is known to have a nonuniform distribution. It might reflect the subjective nature of defining degrees of dysplasia by different pathologists.
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