Abstract

LIMPIAS, Catalina et al. Using Vicia villosa lectin (B4 isolectin) for detecting Tn antigen in epithelial tumours. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2010, vol.58, n.4, pp.293-305. ISSN 0120-0011.

Background. T, Tn and sTn epitopes are expressed in a large percentage of epithelial tumours and may be detected with monoclonal antibodies and lectins. Objective. Assess differences in expression of Tn antigen in histological sections of non- neoplastic epithelia and epithelial tumors by isolectin B4 from Vicia villosa Materials and methods. The localisation, intensity and percentage of antigen expression in in-situ and infiltrant carcinomas and non-neoplasic epithelial cells from the cervix, breast and urothelium were semi-quantitatively evaluated by B4 isolectin. Results. Tn expression in the cervix predominated in the membrane of non-neoplasic cells and the cytoplasm of tumour cells; its intensity was greater in in-situ and infiltrant carcinomas compared to non-neoplasic epithelial cells, even though such percentage of expression was greater. Tn expression in the breast was predominantly cytoplasmic (having similar intensity). The percentage of expression was greater in in-situ ductal carcinomas and infiltrates. Tn expression in non-neoplasic and tumoural urothelium predominated in the cytoplasm; the intensity and percentage of expression were greater in low and high degree non-invasive neoplasias, whilst this was low in non-neoplasic urothelium and there was no defined tendency in infiltrant tumours. Conclusions. Tn antigen detection by lectin VVB4 showed greater expression in breast ductal carcinomas in relation to non-neoplastic epithelium, but showed on definite trend between the normal tissue and different stages of development of cervical tumors and urothelium. These findings can be related to heterogeneity of the carcinogenic processes or may be attributed to the specificity of the lectin VVB4 is not restricted to Tn antigen

Keywords : antigens; lectins; epithelial cells; cervix uteri; uterine cervical neoplasms.

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