Abstract
TA-4 is one of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)-related antigens which was extracted from the SCC of uterine cervix and purified by Kato. This antigen is widely used as a tumor marker in order to make both a diagnosis and prognosis of SCC of the uterine cervix. To confirm the utilization of TA-4 for SCC of the skin as a tumor marker, TA-4 in SCC was immunohistochemically studied. 25 patients with SCC were examined by the biotin-strept avidin method using two kinds of anti TA-4 monoclonal antibodies: MoAb-27 which reacts with both acidic and neutral TA-4, and MoAb-317 which is specific to acidic TA-4.
1) in the normal skin
The MoAb-27 showed a positive reaction diffused in the granular to prickle cell layer and in the prickle cell layer, and a negative reaction in the corneum and the basal cell layers. The MoAb-317 showed no reaction to any of the layers. From these findings, it is suggested that the TA-4 in the normal skin is neutral.
2) in the nest of SCC
In SCC of Broders grades I and II, MoAb-27 revealed positive cells in the cancer nest, while it showed a negative reaction in the basaloid cells and the horney materials. In SCC of Broders grades III and IV, MoAb-27 were negative in all cancer cells. In Broders grades I and II cancer, MoAb-317 were positive only in the cells at the peripheral parts adjacent to the surrounding stromal tissue. The above findings imply that MoAb-27 is useful in differentiating between SCC of Broders grade II and that of Broders grade III, and also suggest that the cancer cells produce acidic TA-4. Acidic TA-4 is, therefore available as a tumor marker for SCC of the skin as well as of the uterine cervix.
