Losses of expression of the antigens A, Lea and Lex and over-expression of Ley in carcinomas and HG-SIL of the uterine cervix

BACKGROUND The glycosylation of a great number of molecules, glyco-protein or glycolipids, has been of interest for decades. OBJECTIVE To compare the expressive patterns of the isoantigenic determinants of histo-blood groups ABH and Lewis in squamous and simple epithelium and in precursors and cancers of the cervix. METHODS A total of 36 lesions and neoplasms (10 LG-SIL, 16 HG-SIL and 10 invasive carcinomas) have been studied with immunohistochemical techniques, using monoclonal antibodies (MoAb BG1 to BG8) for precursor chains, blood-group ABH and Lewis group Le(a), Le(b), Le(x), and Le(y), and four types of lectins. In addition, we have studied the expression of p53 protein and PCNA, establishing the rate of proliferation of each lesion. Using PCR techniques, we have also detected part of the intron of the E6 gene of HPV-16. RESULTS In the invasive cervical carcinomas, we observed a loss of expression of the Le(x) antigen (p < 0.01). With regard to the progression of the different lesions studied, we found alterations in the patterns of expression of the antigens of the ABH and Lewis blood groups. There was a tendency towards a loss of expression and heterogeneous patterns in the more advanced lesions, as well as over-expression of the Le(y) antigens. With PCNA, we established a proliferative rate which tended to be greater in relation to the progression of the cervix neoplasms. CONCLUSION These results indicate that there is a relation between the losses of histo-blood groups and the progression of the squamous intraepithelial lesions.