Tn and sialyl-Tn antigens as potential prognostic markers in human ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract

Carcinoma-associated Tn and sialyl-Tn antigens have been shown to aid in the prediction of tumor aggressiveness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of Tn and sialyl-Tn antigen expression in human ovarian carcinoma. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 32 primary ovarian carcinomas, 6 benign and 2 normal ovarian tissues were immunostained using monoclonal antibodies against Tn and sialyl-Tn antigens and a streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method Immunostainings were assessed semiquantitatively and the measurements were then correlated with the established prognostic factors of ovarian carcinoma. i.e. disease stage and histological grade. Of the 32 ovarian carcinomas, 22 (69%) expressed Tn and 28 (87.5%) sialyl-Tn antigens. Immunostaining measures for Tn antigen were significantly associated with the clinical stage (p < or = 0.02) and histological grade (p < or = 0.05) of the tumors. The results for sialyl-Tn antigen revealed more significant associations with the clinical stage (p < or = 0.002) and histological grade (p < or = 0.007). The clinical stage and histologic grade of the tumors were also highly correlated with each other. Similarly, combined Tn and sialyl-Tn antigen expression revealed significant correlations with the prognostic factors. Benign and normal ovarian tissues showed no reactive Tn and sialyl-Tn antigen. The extent of Tn and sialyl-Tn antigen expression in primary ovarian carcinoma may contribute to the prognosis of the disease.