Value of SLX and CA19-9 in the serum and tissue in colorectal cancer including the relation to Lewis blood type

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the value of SLX and CA19-9 in the tissue and serum in colorectal cancer and adenoma including the relation to Lewis blood type. SLX isolated by Hakomori et al is one of sialyl SSEA-1 antigens characterized by type 2 chain lacto series glycolipids.
Distribution of SLX and CA19-9 was determined in 137 specimens of colorectal cancer (107 advanced and 30 early cancer) and 20 specimens of adenoma by using immunoperoxidase (ABC) method. Serum SLX, CA19-9 and CEA levels were measured preoperatively in 58 cases with histologically proven colorectal cancer by using RIA kits. Simultaneously, Lewis blood type were determined by hemagglutination test in 31 cases.
The following results were obtained; 1) SLX and CA19-9 were mostly observed in apical membrane and luminal contents, but a few in cytoplasma of cancer tissue. Positive rate of SLX and CA19-9 was 96.2% and 88.8%, respectively. 2) SLX and CA19-9 were lightly stained in the goblet cells and surface epithelium in some of the mucosa adjacent to the cancer tissue, and positive rate of SLX and CA19-9 was 24.3% and 32.7%, respectively. 3) Positive rate of SLX and CA19-9 was 60% and 50% in adenoma, and 94% and 80% in "m" cancer. Positive rate was not different due to grade of dysplasia of adenoma, but distribution of SLX or grade of the staining of CA19-9 was different between adenoma with mild and moderate dysplasia. 4) Serum SLX, CA19-9 and CEA were positive in 20.6%, 25.6% and 39.7% respectively, and were correlated to the grade of Dukes classification. There was no correlation between serum SLX and CA19-9 levels or SLX and CEA levels in each case. 5) Serum SLX level was not influenced by Lewis blood type, but serum CA19-9 level was low in all cases of Le(a-b-) type.
From these results, it was considered that SLX and CA19-9 had a clinical utility for the diagnosis of colonic cancer from the finding indicating that SLX and CA19-9 were stained in most of the cancer tissue and serum SLX and CA19-9 values were related to the grade of staining in cancer tissue.