Immunohistochemical study of carcinoembryonic antigen in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa

Abstract

Fifty-five cases of squamous cell carcinomas and nine cases of lymphnodal metastases were studied by the immunoperoxidase technique for the demonstration of CEA localization. CEA was observed in 27 (93.1%) of 29 well-differentiated tumors, 11 (55.0%) of 20 moderately-differentiated tumors, and one (16.7%) of six poorly-differentiated tumors. CEA presence in squamous cell carcinomas was significantly related to their histological differentiation.
Immunohistologically, the CEA stain was restricted to the keratinizing areas and necrotic areas of squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer pearls were well demonstrated by CEA staining. Ultrastructurally CEA was present on the surface of cytoplasmic membrane of keratinizing cells. In metastatic lymph nodes, CEA was also demonstrated in keratinizing areas and necrotic areas.
It was concluded that the CEA staining was valuable in deciding the histological grading of squamous cell carcinoma of oral mucosa.