Biomedical subjects

M Eskelinen

Publications and source records attributed to M Eskelinen.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) related to histopathological characteristics and survival in prostatic adenocarcinoma.

The number of silver stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) was assessed in biopsy specimens of 78 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma followed up for a mean of 15.6 years. The number of Ag-NORs was related to histological features, clinical stage, DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction (SPF) and clinical outcome. In 31/36 (86%) of grade I tumours on average less than 3.5 AgNORs/nucleus were present, whereas of grade III tumours 8/18 (44%) showed usually more than 3.5 Ag-NORs/nucleus (p = 0.0163). The number of Ag-NORs was significantly related to mean nuclear area (NA) (p = 0.017) and to SD of nuclear area (p = 0.05). The Ag-NORs were not related significantly to clinical stage, perineural infiltration, lymphatic infiltration, DNA ploidy, SPF, G2 fraction or M/V index, although there was a clear trend between the variables. In survival analysis, the degree of lymphatic infiltration (LI) (P = 0.009) predicted survival, whereas AgNORs had no significant prognostic value albeit a trend was observed. In T1-T2 tumours, histological grade (p = 0.05), PNI (p = 0.04) and SPF (p = 0.0076) predicted survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Breast cancer in young women: clinical, histological and morphometric prognostic factors.

Clinical features, 8 histological features, 7 nuclear morphometric variables and 2 mitotic indices were entered in a univariate and in a multivariate survival analysis to assess their independent predictive value in 56 breast cancer patients under the age of 40 years who were followed up for over 10 years. The most important predictor of recurrence-free survival (RFS) in univariate analysis was the SD of nuclear perimetry (p = 0.003) followed by SD of nuclear area (p = 0.006), M/V index (p = 0.036), pN status (p = 0.046), nuclear area of 10 largest nuclei (p = 0.07), nuclear perimetry (p = 0.09) and nuclear area (p = 0.09) in that order. In pN(-) patients, SDPE (p = 0.04), SDNA (p = 0.07) and NA10 (p = 0.07) predicted RFS. In pN+ patients the most important predictor of RFS was the SDNA (p = 0.001) followed by NA 10 (p = 0.003), SDPE (p = 0.009), PE (p = 0.01), NA (p = 0.01) and Dmin (shortest diameter) (p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis the pN-status independently predicted RFS. Tumour size (p = 0.001), pN status (p = 0.002) and M/V-index (p = 0.079) were related to BS (breast cancer survival). In pN-patients, NA 10 (p = 0.097) predicted BS, whereas in pN+ tumours tumour size (p = 0.06) was the most important predictor of BS. In a multivariate analysis, tumour size (p = 0.02) and pN-status (p = 0.016) were independent predictors of BS.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of tumour markers TAG 12 with CA 15-3 and MCA in breast cancer diagnosis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of the new tumour marker TAG 12 in sera from patients with breast cancer (n = 123), patients with benign breast disease (n = 30) and normal controls (n = 38). The results for TAG 12 were compared with those for CA 15-3 and MCA. The cut-off levels (90% specificity) determined for each test in the benign and control groups were 57.5 kU/1 for TAG 12, 24.8 kU/1 for CA 15-3 and 11.8 kU/1 for MCA. The diagnostic sensitivity of the TAG 12 test was 0.30, 0.19 for CA 15-3 test and 0.20 for MCA test in detecting breast cancer. TAG 12, CA 15-3 and MCA tests were tested in a multivariate analysis to find the best combination of independent predictors of breast cancer. The most important predictor of breast cancer was TAG 12. In order to evaluate the contributions of different tumour marker serum tests a stepwise discriminant analysis was carried out. The discriminant function is DF = TAG 12 x 0.0349 + CA 15-3 x 0.0568 + MCA x (-0.33) - 0.53. The sensitivity of the DF in detecting breast cancer was 31% with a specificity of 91% and a efficiency of 52%. The correlation coefficient in breast cancer patients between TAG 12 and CA15-3 measurements was 0.95, and 0.90 between TAG 12 and MCA measurements. In conclusion, the results indicate that TAG 12, CA 15-3 and MCA have only limited value in the diagnosis of breast cancer, but their role in monitoring and follow up of breast cancer patients is a subject for further investigation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of tumour markers CA50, CEA and TPA in female breast carcinoma as related to histopathological findings and survival.

Expression of the tumour markers CEA, TPA and CA 50 was determined immunohistochemically (using a staining index, I) in paraffin embedded biopsy specimens from 114 female breast carcinomas, with special emphasis on tumour histology and patient prognosis. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 58.1 (13.1) years and they were prospectively followed-up for a mean of 12.4 years. The mean (SD) staining index (I) values were as follows: for CEA 0.14 (0.35) (range 0.00-3.00) for TPA 2.01 (0.77) (range 0.00-3.00) and for CA 50 0.36 (0.67) (range 0.00-3.00). Grade I tumours showed higher positivity for TPA than grade III tumours (p = 0.0038). The irregularity of nuclei was related to TPA positivity, in that the tumours with regular nuclei had higher I values for TPA positivity, than tumours with highly irregular nuclei (p = 0.08). Breast cancer-related survival significantly correlated with TPA positivity as well (p = 0.047). The CEA and CA 50 positivity were not significantly related to clinical or histological variables. Survival could not be predicted significantly by means of CEA or CA 50 quantitation. Our results show that it is possible to quantitate the expression of the tumour markers CEA, TPA and CA 50 in breast cancer in paraffin sections. CEA and CA 50 immunohistochemistry does not possess any significant predictive value in breast cancer, whereas TPA expression might be utilized in discriminating malignant subtypes of breast cancers from the more benign ones.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sex steroid receptors, S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy as determinants of the risk of relapse and death of female breast cancer.

S phase fraction (SPF) and DNA ploidy were related to disease outcome by a separate analysis of sex steroid receptor positive and negative tumours in a series of 232 patients with breast carcinoma followed-up for over 8 years in our clinic. SPF was significantly higher in receptor-negative tumours than in receptor-positive ones (p = 0.037). SPF predicted recurrence only in ER+ or PR+ patients (p = 0.02-0.003). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was significantly related to SPF only in ER+ (p = 0.001) and PR+ (p less than 0.001) tumours. In survival analysis, ER+ (p = 0.002) and PR+ (p less than 0.001) patients were efficiently divided into prognostic groups by SPF, whereas in ER- and in PR- tumours SPF had only suggestive predictive value. In N- tumours, SPF predicted recurrence-free survival and disease-related survival in ER+ (p = 0.003) (p = 0.039) and in PR+ (p = 0.003) (p = 0.012) tumours, respectively, whereas in ER-, PR-, tumours, SPF had no predictive value. In pN+ tumours, SPF also predicted survival in ER+ (p = 0.03) and in PR+ (p = 0.024) tumours. Thus the prognosis of ER+ or PR+ tumours with an SPF less than 9% is favourable with a risk of death of about 20%, in contrast to that of about 70% in tumours with an SPF greater than 9% during the follow-up period. To conclude, the proliferation rate as measured by S phase fraction by FCM is a highly significant prognostic factor in breast cancer. The prognostic value of S phase fraction is confined to steroid receptor-positive tumours, whereas in receptor-negative tumours SPF has no predictive value. The results thus suggest that all women with steroid receptor-negative breast tumours and those receptor-positive tumours with an SPF higher than 9% should be subjected to postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy immediately.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical demonstration of c-erb B-2 oncoprotein expression in female breast cancer and its prognostic significance.

The expression of c-erb B-2 oncoprotein was studied immunohistochemically in paraffin embedded biopsy specimens of 91 female breast carcinomas. The mean (+/- SD) age of the patients at diagnosis was 59.0 (+/- 13.2) years and they were prospectively followed-up for a mean of 12.4 years (range 11.5-13.3 years). The c-erb B-2 expression was analysed in relation to clinical stage, menopausal status, histological grade, tubular growth pattern, irregularity of nuclei, DNA ploidy and clinical outcome during the follow-up. Grade III tumours showed higher c-erb B-2 expression than low grade tumours and the c-erb B-2 expression than low grade tumours and the c-erb B-2 positivity was also related to the irregularity of the nuclei (p = 0.0815). Crude survival (p = 0.0635) and breast cancer survival (p = 0.072) could be predicted by c-erb B-2 expression, in that the c-erb B-2 negative tumours survived longer. The prediction of crude survival (p = 0.03), breast cancer survival (p = 0.04) and disease-free survival (p = 0.037) was more reliable in postmenopausal women. The results suggest that c-erb B-2 oncogene expression can be used as a prognostic parameter in predicting the biological behaviour of female breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical staining of human breast cancer with a new tumour marker MCA: relation to axillary lymph node involvement, metastasis, and survival.

The immunohistochemical reactivity of a new tumour marker MCA (mucinous carcinoma associated antigen) was determined in human breast cancer. The material consisted of paraffin-embedded biopsies from the breast tumours in 95 patients. The age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 58.1 +/- 13.1 years. The maximal follow-up time was 13.3 years and the mean follow-up time 12.4 years (range 11.5-13.3 years). MCA positivity was not related to histological type or size of the tumour. It was, however, related to axillary node involvement (p = 0.05) and metastasis (p = 0.06) during the follow-up time. The prediction of metastasis (p = 0.05) and node involvement (p = 0.048) was better in postmenopausal women. Crude survival or breast cancer survival could not be predicted with statistical significance on the basis of MCA staining. The disease-free survival had an almost statistically significant correlation with MCA positivity (p = 0.09). Our results suggest that the new tumour marker antigen MCA reacts with breast cancer cells in paraffin sections. It might be used in identification of cancer cells in tissue sections. MCA can also be used as a weak indicator of aggressiveness of the tumour.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of nuclear morphometric variables as prognostic predictors in breast cancer.

The preoperative biopsies from primary breast carcinomas of 504 women were subjected to interactive morphometric analysis of a) the mean nuclear area (NA), b) standard deviation of nuclear area (SDNA), c) mean area of the 10 largest nuclei (NAl0), d) nuclear perimeter (PE), e) standard deviation of nuclear perimeter (SPDE), f) largest nuclear diameter (Dmax) and g) shortest nuclear diameter (Dmin), h) histological grade and i) classical prognostic variables. The above data were correlated with the disease outcome during the mean follow-up period of 11.2 years. Tumor size (p less than 0.0001), morphometric variables (p = 0.0001-0.005) and histological grade (p = 0.03) predicted axillary lymph node metastasis at the time of diagnosis. According to multivariate analysis, tumour size and NA predicted the axillary lymph node metastasis independently. Axillary lymph node status (p less than 0.0001) and histological grade (p = 0.01) predicted the tumour recurrence and recurrence-free survival, whereas the morphometric variables had no significant predictive value. Axillary lymph node status (p less than 0.0001), tumour size (p less than 0.0001), histological grade (p = 0.0012) and morphometric variables (p = 0.003-0.035) predicted the disease-related survival. Of the morphometric variables, NA and the Dmin were the two most important predictors of tumour-related survival in univariate analysis. Dmax had independent prognostic information in multivariate survival analysis. In the same analysis, tumour size and axillary lymph node status were more important predictors. In conclusion, the morphometric variables analysed have independent predictive value in female breast cancer. Their value is, however, inferior to that of the tumour size and axillary lymph node status, but equal to that of the histological grade.

Biopsy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

TAG 12 expression as a prognostic factor in female breast cancer.

The expression of a novel tumour marker TAG 12 was immunohistochemically determined in paraffin embedded biopsies of 79 female breast carcinomas, with special emphasis on its potential prognostic value. The mean (+/- SD) age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 58.1 (+/- 13.1) years and all women had been prospectively followed-up for a mean of 12.4 years (range 11.5-13.3 years). All except one tumour were TAG 12 positive. In the normal breast, TAG 12 expression was localized at the apical (secretory) cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. Accordingly, TAG 12 was present in abundance in the intraductal secretions as well. TAG 12 positivity was weakly related to histological grade (p = 0.178) and significantly to tubular grade (p = 0.021) of the tumours. TAG 12 positivity was not significantly related to the following parameters: menopausal status, tumour size, axillary lymph node involvement, histological type of the tumour, DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction or irregularity of tumor cell nuclei. The prediction of lymph node involvement and metastasis was not possible in either pre- or postmenopausal women. Similarly, crude survival, breast cancer survival or disease-free survival were not significantly related to TAG 12 expression. The results indicate that quantitation of immunohistochemically determined TAG 12 expression has no prognostic value in breast cancer. At best, TAG 12 might be of some assistance in discriminating malignant breast lesions from benign conditions.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hormone receptor status and mitotic activity as risk factors for recurrence and death in female breast carcinoma.

The estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status, volume corrected mitotic index (M/V index) and other classical prognostic factors were related to disease outcome in a series of 281 women with breast cancer followed up for over 8 years. The M/V index predicted recurrence only in ER+ or PR+ patients (p = 0.002-0.006). Similarly, the recurrence-free survival was related to M/V index only in ER+ (p = 0.0005) or PR+ (p less than 0.0001) patients. In survival analysis, ER+ (p = 0.0037) and PR+ (p less than 0.0001) patients were accurately divided into different prognostic groups by the M/V index, whereas in ER- and in PR-tumours the M/V index had only suggestive predictive value (p = 0.06-0.5). In N-tumours the M/V index predicted recurrence-free survival only in ER+ (p = 0.0228) and in PR+ (p = 0.0087) tumours. In survival analysis of N-tumours, the M/V index predicted cancer-related survival in ER+ (p = 0.0102) and in PR+ (p = 0.0014) tumours. In ER-/PR-, N-tumours, none of the variables tested had any prognostic value. The present results suggest that adjuvant hormone treatment might be indicated in ER+ or PR+ tumours with a M/V index greater than 10, regardless of the axillary lymph node status. The prognosis of ER+ or PR+ tumours with a M/V index less than 10 is favourable, the risk of recurrence being of the order of 15% only during the 10-year follow-up. Thus, the expensive and distressing adjuvant treatments could be omitted for these women with an inherently favourable disease outcome.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation of a new tumour marker TAG 12 in breast cancer.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of the new tumour marker TAG 12 in sera from patients with breast cancer, patients with benign breast disease and normal controls. The results for TAG 12 were compared with those for CA 15-3 and MCA. The cut-off levels (95th percentile) determined for each test in the benign and control groups were 59 KU/l for TAG 12, 27 KU/l for CA 15-3 and 12 KU/l for MCA. The diagnostic sensitivity of the TAG 12 test was 0.30 (cut-off level 59 KU/l), 0.25 for CA 15-3 test (cut-off level 27 KU/l) and 0.15 for MCA test (cut-off level 12 KU/l) in detecting breast cancer. The combination of TAG 12, CA 15-3 and MCA reached the diagnostic sensitivity 0.35, specificity 0.90, efficiency 0.68, LR+ 3.5, and LR- 0.72 The correlation coefficient in breast cancer patients between TAG 12 and CA 15-3 was 0.99 and the correlation coefficient between TAG 12 and MCA was 0.95. In conclusion, the results indicate that TAG 12, CA 15-3 and MCA have only limited value in the diagnosis of breast cancer, but their role in monitoring and follow-up of breast cancer patients is a subject for further investigation.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nuclear morphometry in grading transitional cell bladder cancer compared with subjective histological grading.

A retrospective study was performed comprising 265 bladder cancer patients. The patients were clinically followed up for an average of 10 years. The initial tumour biopsies were subjected to morphometric analysis. The mean nuclear area (NA), the standard deviation of nuclear area (SDNA) and the mean area of the 10 largest nuclei (NA10) were measured using IBAS 1&2 image analyzer. The prognostic value of NA, SDNA, NA10, papillary, subjective histological grading (WHO) and clinical stage (UICC) was evaluated. The progress in T-category was related to histological grade (p less than 0.0001), non-papillar growth (p = 0.0023), SDNA (p = 0.0110) and NA10 (p = 0.0305), in that order. The same parameters in addition to NA predicted lymph node involvement and metastasis. Recurrence rate was significantly related to NA10 (p = 0.0250). Non-papillar growth (p = 0.002), clinical stage (p = 0.005), histological grade (p = 0.0120), NA (p = 0.0143), SDNA (0.0383) and NA10 (p = 0.0632) predicted recurrence-free period. Bladder cancer survival was related to clinical stage (p less than 0.0001), histological grade (p less than 0.0001), SDNA (p less than 0.0001), non-papillar growth (p less than 0.0001), NA (p = 0.0001) and NA 10 (p = 0.0001), in that order. Grade II tumours could be regrouped prognostically using NA (p = 0.006), SDNA (p = 0.033) and NA10 (p = 0.016) as classifiers. Clinical stage, NA and histological grade predicted bladder cancer survival in a multiparameter analysis. The results show that NA and SDNA are powerful prognosticators of survival. NA10 and SDNA predict progression better than NA. The multiparameter analysis identified clinical stage, histological grade and NA as the most important prognosticators of survival.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation of new serum tumor markers CA M26 and CA M29 in patients with primary breast cancer.

Serum CA M26 and CA M29 values were determined in 125 women: 46 patients with primary breast cancer, 49 patients with benign breast disease, and 30 controls. The mean CA M26 and CA M29 values in breast cancer patients were higher than in patients with benign breast disease and in control subjects. When we set the cut-off level at 40 kU/1 for CA M26, 15/46 (33%) of all breast cancer patients, 11/20 (55%) of breast cancer patients with axillary node involvement, 1/1 breast cancer patient with distant metastases, 4/49 (8%) of patients with benign breast disease, and 7/30 (23%) of control subjects were above this cut-off level. For comparison, at the cut-off level of 10 kU/1 the CA M29 test was positive in 30/46 (65%) cancer cases, in 16/20 (80%) of cancer patients with nodal involvement, in 9/49 (18%) of the patients with benign breast disease, and in 10/30 (33%) of control subjects. Patients with axillary nodal metastasis showed higher values than patients without metastasis in both tests. When we used a cut-off level of 15 kU/1 for CA M29, 24% (11/46) of all breast cancer patients, 35% (7/20) of breast cancer patients with axillary node involvement, 4% (2/49) of patients with benign breast disease, and 0% of control subjects were above this cut-off level. The combination of CA M26 at the 40 kU/l cut-off level and CA M29 at the 10 kU/l cut-off level reached the diagnostic sensitivity of 0.65, specificity of 0.78, and efficiency of 0.72. In breast cancer detection among patients with breast problems serum marker CA M29 reached the sensitivity of 0.65 at the specificity level of 0.82. Our results suggest that the CA M29 marker alone is as good as the panel of two markers (CA M26, CA M29) in breast cancer diagnostics. Thus it seems that CA M29 is a promising serum tumor marker in breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Efficient test for cancer antigens: decreased levels of cancer antigen in serum after excision of breast tumor.

Monoclonal antibody technology has developed new serum marker tests which may offer advantages in the follow up of cancer patients. In breast cancer detection among symptomatic patients MCA and CA 15-3 monoclonals at best reach a sensitivity of about 0.45 at a specificity level of 0.90. We have tested these monoclonal tests (MCA and CA 15-3) by applying them to detect the postoperative decrease of marker levels in the serum among women with breast cancer or benign breast disease. The CA 15-3 postoperative decrease test (5% decrease) reached slightly higher diagnostic sensitivity (0.70) and efficiency (0.83) than the MCA postoperative decrease test (sensitivity 0.65, efficiency 0.80). The combined MCA and CA 15-3 decrease tests had a sensitivity of 0.85 and an efficiency of 0.90 at 5% decrease level. The postoperative decrease test is far superior to normal marker tests in breast cancer detection, especially when several sensitive markers are used. A 35% or larger decrease in serum levels of MCA or CA 15-3 after surgery was 100% specific for breast cancer, and detected 43% of all cancer cases. Although such a test cannot be used for screening, it could be valuable in special diagnostic situations.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A new tumor marker MCA in breast cancer diagnosis.

The serum concentration of the new tumor marker MCA (mucinous carcinoma associated antigen) was determined by an enzyme immunoassay kit method, which is based on the use of a monoclonal antibody b12. The mean MCA values in breast cancer patients (n = 40) were significantly higher than in patients with benign breast disease (n = 55, p less than 0.001) and in control subjects (n = 37, p less than 0.001). When we used the cut-off level 11 KU/l for MCA, 6/37 (16.2%) of control subjects 7/55 (12.7%) of patients with benign breast disease, 18/40 (45.0%) of all breast cancer patients 11/19 (57.9%) of breast cancer patients with axillary node involvement, and 1/1 breast cancer patient with distant metastases were above this cut-off level. For comparison, at the cut-off level of 5 micrograms/l the CEA test was positive in 7/40 (18%) cancer cases, and in 6/19 (32%) of cancer patients with nodal involvement. Patients with axillary nodal metastasis showed higher values than patients without metastasis in both tests (p less than 0.01). The combination of MCA at 11 KU/l cut-off level and CEA at the 5.0 micrograms/l cut-off level reached the diagnostic sensitivity of 0.53, efficiency of 0.73, and specificity of 0.87. It seems that MCA is a promising tumor marker in breast cancer. Especially high values may have diagnostic significance.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of c-myc proteins in breast cancer as related to established prognostic factors and survival.

The expression of c-myc proteins was analysed immunohistochemically in a series of 206 breast carcinomas with special focus on established prognostic factors and patient survival. Nuclear expression of c-myc proteins was detected in 12% of carcinomas, and it was related to the lack of estrogen receptors (p = 0.05). Cytoplasmic expression of c-myc was present in 95% of the tumours. Expression of cytoplasmic c-myc at the invasive margin was related to tumour grade (p = 0.0013), low mitotic index (p = 0.0002) and low S phase fraction (p = 0.026), and weakly associated with distant metastasis at diagnosis (p = 0.06) and to a high proportion of intraductal growth (p = 0.08). Long recurrence-free survival of the patients was related to strong cytoplasmic expression of c-myc at the invasive margin in the entire series (p = 0.0049) and in axillary lymph node-negative (ANN) (p = 0.0028) tumours. Cytoplasmic c-myc expression in the central areas of the tumour predicted metastasis at diagnosis (p = 0.002), non-ductal type of growth (p = 0.018) and low mitotic index (p = 0.005). Expression of c-myc in the stroma was related to the lack of estrogen receptors (p = 0.02) and to high S phase fraction (p = 0.01). The results show that overexpression of c-myc is involved in a highly complex manner with the early stages of breast cancer development, but it shows hardly any independent prognostic value over standard prognostic factors in clinical disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vitamin A concentration in breast adipose tissue of breast cancer patients.

Vitamin A concentration in breast adipose tissue as a risk factor for breast cancer was studied by assessing the vitamin A concentration in breast adipose tissue of women with benign breast disease (n = 45) and of those with breast cancer (n = 36). No significant differences in vitamin A concentration between the two groups were found either in premenopausal or postmenopausal subjects. The same was true with the dietary intake of vitamin A in these two groups of women. The vitamin A concentration in breast adipose tissue had a significant correlation with the dietary intake in breast cancer cases only (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). The present results support the previous suggestion that vitamin A is unlikely to be related to the risk of breast cancer.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of C-242 antigen in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

This investigation was undertaken in order to analyse the expression of tumor associated antigen CA 242 in normal pancreas, in chronic pancreatitis and in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and to find out if the expression of CA 242 in carcinoma specimens would have prognostic significance. The expression of CA 242 was examined in the tissue specimens by the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique. According to our results, normal pancreas showed no or only weak staining for CA 242, whereas chronic pancreatitis samples stained somewhat intensely. Five out of 39 adenocarcinomas were negative for CA 242, 5 showed weak staining and 29 showed intermediate or intense staining. Positive staining was found mostly in the ductal cells as well as in intraluminal contents. We found no statistically significant difference of CA 242 expression between different grades. The staining intensity and survival had no clear statistical correlation but all carcinoma patients whose survival time was more than twelve months showed an intense staining for CA 242. The results suggests that the expression of tumour associated antigen CA 242 may have prognostic significance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗