BACKGROUND.
Up to now, the expression of the tumor-associated Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen in colorectal carcinoma has not been thoroughly investigated with particular emphasis on its correlation with established clinicopathologic characteristics and classifications as well as its prognostic relevance.
METHODS.
Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded specimens from 264 patients with colorectal carcinoma were stained using an avidin-biotin complexϪperoxidase assay. As primary monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), A78-G/A7, which binds to TF␣ and TF antigen irrespective of its carrier, and BW835, which detects TF␣ on MUC1 repeat peptide, were applied.
RESULTS.
MAbs A78-G/A7 and BW835 labeled 64.8% and 58.0%, respectively, of carcinomas. None of the binding patterns correlated with gender, tumor localization, or growth type. Only BW835 reactivity exhibited a significant correlation with increasing pTNM staging and histologic grading. Staining of the MAb A78-G/A7 was significantly stronger in carcinomas that contained a mucinous component. In univariate survival analysis, in addition to pTNM staging and histologic grading, reactivity with A78-G/A7 as well as BW835 were significantly correlated with lower survival probability. Multivariate analysis according to the Cox proportional hazards model revealed only pTNM staging, histologic grading, and A78-G/A7 staining to be independent prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS.
According to these results, TF disaccharide represents a cancerassociated antigen in colorectal carcinoma that exhibits qualities of a prognostic marker. As demonstrated by BW835 staining, it is obviously coexpressed with MUC1 peptide core in a great number of cases. These results suggest that TF, in addition to MUC1, might also serve as a useful target antigen in the treatment of patients with colorectal carcinoma.