Objective: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusions: The extent of Tn and sialyl-Tn antigen expression in primary ovarian carcinoma may contribute to the prognosis of the disease.