Study of the expression of Tn antigen in different types of human breast cancer cells using VVA-B4 lectin

Abstract

VVA-B 4 lectin was used to investigate the differences in Tn antigen expression in tissues of different types of human breast cancer (benign lesions, carcinoma in situ, invasive carcinoma) and in normal tissues neighboring lobular carcinoma. Locations in which Tn antigen was expressed were identified using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase labeling system. Tissues collected during cosmetic procedures and classified as normal were completely negative, except for one case. Benign proliferative changes including fibroadenoma, apocrine and cylindrical metaplasia showed a very weak positive reaction, although strongly positive cells were also observed. The reaction in non-invasive cases of atypical hyperplasia was diversified depending on site. Intralobular hyperplasia was characterized by a particularly high percentage of labeled cells. A majority (up to 80%) of ductal and lobular carcinoma in situ showed very strong or moderate staining. In invasive cancers, there were conspicuous differences between stage of cancer development and tendency towards a decrease in intensely labeled cell count in the most advanced stages. In normal tissues in the direct neighborhood of carcinoma in situ, the cytoplasm of 40% of cells was strongly labeled. However, the findings for normal tissues in the close vicinity of invasive cancer were the most surprising, since there was either no or only very weak positive reaction. It can be concluded that glycosylation modifications during carcinogenesis, as demonstrated by the presence of Tn epitope, develop very early, before any destructive changes in proliferation/apoptosis or cell differentiation become discernible.

Lectin microarray technology identifies specific lectins related to lymph node metastasis of advanced gastric cancer

“…Tn antigen is composed of a carbohydrate chain, a-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-serine/threonine, one of the simplest glycan structures, and binds specifically to VVA. Expression of Tn antigen detected by VVA was recently reported, with a decrease in intensely labeled cell count in the most advanced stages of breast cancer [27]. This result is consistent with our quantitative analysis.…”

Mucin 6 and Tn Antigen Expression in Canine Mammary Tumours: Correlation with Pathological Features

“…Tn antigen is overexpressed in human malignant breast cancer compared with normal or hyperplastic tissue (Konska et al, 2006) and expression is correlated with a poor prognosis (Springer, 1997). In the present study, simple carcinomas, which according to some (Misdorp et al, 1999;Goldschmidt et al, 2011) carry a poor prognosis, had greater expression of Tn antigen than complex carcinomas.…”

“…Tn antigen consists of a N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) residue covalently O-linked to a serine/ threonine (Hollingsworth and Swanson, 2004), which is masked in healthy tissues and benign tumours but occurs in approximately 90% of all human primary carcinomas (Springer, 1997;Wang et al, 1997), including those of the breast (Taylor-Papadimitriou and Epenetos, 1994;Konska et al, 2006). In breast cancer, Tn antigen expression has been associated with a poor prognosis (Springer, 1997).…”

The Cosmc connection to the Tn antigen in cancer

“…It has been estimated that the Tn antigen may be expressed in > 70% of human carcinomas, including colon [100], and others [101–105]. Tn and STn antigens are also highly expressed in human breast cancers [106,107], where their expression is strongly associated with poor prognoses. STn antigen expression is observed in many epithelial cancers, and its expression correlates with enhanced expression of ST6GalNAc-I [108] and elevated serum levels of STn antigen are associated with poor prognosis [109,110].…”