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Primary and recurring breast carcinomas do not differ in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), C-erb-2 oncoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen and trophoblastic antigen. The content of PCNA and C-erb-2 oncoprotein is twice as high in tumors with an unfavorable prognosis and the frequency of combination of these markers is much higher comparing to tumors with a good prognosis.

Mammary carcinoma (MC) of various histological structure are studied immunomorphologically. Positive reaction with proliferative cells nuclear antigen (PCNA) oncoprotein cerbB-2, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), trophoblastic beta 1 globulin (TBG) and tissue protein ferritin (Fe) was observed in one third, and with cyprein in half of MC cases. Clear-cut dependence of immunomorphological parameters upon histologic structure and degree of malignancy was not established. An increase of PCNA content with the tumor size increase was observed. There is a tendency to more frequent observation of CEA, Fe, TBG in the presence of the lymph nodes metastases. Most unfavourable for the prognosis are combinations of positive reactions of CEA with TBG, CEA with OCNA, CEA with cerbB-2 as well as PCNA, cerbB-2, CEA.

129 cases of non-malignant gastric lesions and 171 cases of gastric carcinoma were studied immunohistochemically for pepsinogen C. PgC was constantly expressed at the bottom of the gastric glands irrespective of the disease. PgC was much more frequently observed in cancer patients (p < 0.001). PgC-positive were carcinoma tissues (38%), particularly of the intestinal type (53.4%), but also in mixed (40%) and diffuse (15.5%) types. PgC-negative carcinomas were more frequently observed in combination with PgC-positive areas of the surface epithelium (p < 0.001) and intestinal metaplasia (p < 0.05). PgC-positive dysplastic foci were observed in both groups of PgC-positive and PgC-negative malignant tumours.

The expression of pregnancy-specific beta-1-globulin (SP1) was studied in cancer-affected and nonaffected colon mucosa. The antigen was revealed in 19 out of 50 (38%) cases of carcinoma and in 1 out of 4 cases of ulcerative colitis. SP1 was found neither in noncancer colon mucosa nor in transitional mucosa and adenomas. The antigen was detected in the epithelium and stromal macrophages of carcinoma. SP1-positive cells were located mainly in the sites of tumor invasion. The results allow considering SP1 the tumor marker suitable for immunohistochemical diagnosis of colon cancer.

Distribution of secretory beta-globulin (S beta G) which possesses affinity for steroids was investigated immunohistochemically. Tissue specificity of S beta G, produced in adult secretory epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles, salivary glands, prostate, bronchi and mammary gland was discovered. The protein was not detected in fetal and embryonal tissues. S beta G synthesis is abnormal in neoplasms: its expression partly preserves in breast cancer cells and increases in epithelium of mammary ducts near the focus of malignancy. In lung cancer and bronchial glands cells near the focus of neoplastic transformation S beta G positive reaction was not observed.

Beta-I-MA and CEA concentration in gastric juice was studied in 74 patients with gastric pathology and healthy subjects. Elevated concentrations of beta-I-MA and CEA were found more often in the gastric juice of cancer patients and less often in that of patients without malignant pathology. No significant differences in the concentration of each antigen were found between the "cancer" and "polyp" groups. The combined use of the two test procedures was shown to sufficiently complement the CEA test. The difference in the probability of high concentrations of both antigens in gastric juice in cancer and low ones in other pathologies was highly significant (chi 2 = 15.3, p. 0.00015).

An antigen from meconium was revealed by monoclonal antibody D 12 (IgM). This antigen was heat liable substance with relative m. m. about 400-600 kD. Reactions on histological slides with MAb D 12 were blocked up after processing tissues by neuraminidase and become stronger after processing tissues by NaIO4. Antigen D 12 was found in goblet cells of fetal and definitive colon and in analogous cells of trachea and bronchi.

The expression of specific-pregnancy beta 1-globulin (SP1) was studied in gastric mucosa with chronic gastritis. The expression of SP1 was revealed in focus of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia as well as in cover epithelial cells.

The stomach carcinoma micrometastases to lymph nodes were revealed by nondirect immunoperoxidase method. The reaction was performed on the slides of lymph nodes stained with hematoxylin and eosin taken from pathomorphologic archives, by the mixture of polyclonal antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen, beta-I-meconial antigen and pepsinogen C. The micrometastases were found in 7 of 58 cases (10.8%) that had initial histologic diagnosis "lack of metastases".

The expression of 4 meconial antigens--beta-1-MA, beta-2-MA, MMA, gamma-MA in neoplastic and preneoplastic colonic mucosa was studied. Meconial antigens were revealed in small amount in adult normal colonic epithelium. The mucosa adjacent to tumours was rich in these antigens. Cellular localization of meconial antigens in these parts of colonic mucosa was similar to that of embryonal alimentary tract. beta-1-MA was found in 96%, beta-2-MA--73.6%, MMA--82.8%, gamma-MA--31.8% of colonic carcinomas.

Tissues of adult man and fetus were studied by indirect immunoperoxidase technique using affinity-purified antibodies against placenta-specific alpha 2-microglobulin (APM-2). APM-2 proved to be synthesized mucous membrane cells of uterus during secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. APM-2 was also found in atretic follicle of fertile woman ovary as well as in I order oocytes from the fetus ovary (26 weeks). In men APM-2 is synthesized in seminal vesicles. APM-2 was found both in cytotrophoblast and in syncytiotrophoblast as shown by study of chorionic villi.

The expression of CEA was studied with the help of rabbit antibody and CEA-specific lectin-krustacin in pepsinogen positive gastric glands near carcinomas and in gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia of the epithelium without neoplasia. CEA-krustacin was revealed in 20 out of 41 cases and CEA-antibody in 2 out of 41 cases of gastric glands in mucosa near carcinomas. The results of investigation discover the development in the gastric glands near carcinoma subcellular components. Paraneoplastic phenomenon was found in the majority of the cases.

Cytologic preparations of 56 samples of pleural fluid, of 31 samples of ascitic fluid, and 13 puncture biopsy specimens were examined in immunocytochemical tests. Carcinoembryonic antigen and trophoblastic beta 2-globulin were detected in the cytograms. Antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen and trophoblastic beta 2-globulin employed in the tests did not react with the cells from benign exudation, because tumor cells, particularly glandular carcinoma ones, contain these markers in high concentrations.

Seventy-five samples of human tumors were examined immunohistochemically for fertility alpha-2-microglobulin also known as progesterone-associated protein of the endometrium. The protein was detected in 35.7% (5 of 14) endometrial cancer samples and in 20% (2 of 10) of ovarian malignancies. Tumors of the stomach, colon, breast, lung and some other sites failed to reveal the antigen with the exception of a single case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma which showed the ectopic expression of the protein. Fertility alpha-2-microglobulin is stage-specific tissue marker of the endometrium. It is expressed at the final stage of cell differentiation and is partially lost in cancer.

The location of embryonic prealbumin (EPA) was investigated by indirect immune peroxidase test in gastric mucosa: 16 cases of chronic gastritis without malignant tumour and in 48 cases of gastric carcinoma. EPA in the mucosa was found in 35% cases of carcinoma outside the tumour and 31.3% cases of mucosa without tumour. The highest expression of EPA was found in stromal component of hyperplastic polyp without malignancy. Comparison of EPA and carcinoembryonic antigen in tissue did not reveal the presence of correlation between these oncofetal markers. Most likely this antigen is of a reactive nature and it can not be used for the evaluation of the probability of gastric mucosa malignant transformation.

Immunohistochemical methods were used to identify A2F4 monoclonal antibodies raised by immunization of animals with a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line in 17 lung adenocarcinomas and five pulmonary metastases of other origin. The antigen identified by the antibodies was registered in 53% of lung adenocarcinomas. Localization of the pulmonary antigen was compared with that of the carcinoembryonic antigen. The expression of the antigens proved different.

The review deals with antigenic markers used for immunocytochemical diagnosis of malignant tumours describes theoretical and practical basis for identification of malignant cells in lymph nodes, bone marrow, peritoneal and pleural effusions and sputum with application of tumour markers. The identification of micrometastases in lymph nodes of patients with gastric cancer and the identification of malignant cells in smears from effusions illustrate the authors' own results. The description of immunocytochemical methods is given.

Using immunoperoxidase technique, antibodies to CEA (Ab) were compared to a glycoprotein krustacin (Kr) extracted from Pagurus prideauxii, which has an ability to precipitate specifically CEA. It was found that Kr and Ab reacted in a similar manner with embryonic and normal gastrointestinal tissues, revealing practically identical localization of the antigen in the tissues and cells. It was possible, however, to note some quantitative and qualitative differences in the distribution of antigen, which showed that Kr and Ab reacted with different determinants of the CEA molecule.

Pepsinogens were studied in histological specimens of gastric carcinoma by indirect immunoperoxidase method. They were identified in 14 out of 24 intestinal tumors and in 2 out of 6 mixed carcinomas, but none was found in any of 10 diffuse carcinomas. Pepsinogen C was found in all pepsinogen-positive tumors, pepsinogen A--in 11 of them, and an antigen common with swine pepsin--in 2 tumors only. The pepsinogens were also observed in metastases of pepsinogen-positive primary tumors.

A rabbit antiserum to the meconium antigen of the human fetal intestine is obtained by immunization of rabbits by this substance preparation. The preparation is extracted from meconium by the sulphate ammonium (70% saturation) treatment and gel filtration of supernatant with selection of the 240 kD fractions. In the indirect immunoperoxidase reaction the antiserum reacts with epithelium of certain normal and fetal tissues. It displays oncofetal features in colon, since it reacts with fetal and malignant epithelium and does not react with normal epithelium of this organ. The developed test-system may be used in pathomorphology for the morphological and functional state of colon mucosa evaluation.

Human tumours and tissues of nude mice were studied immunohistochemically using rabbit antibody to the beta-1-MA. Specific reaction was observed in colonic carcinomas, beta-1-MA was not found in other tumours. The specific reaction was found in intestinal epithelium of nude mice, and was absent in other tissues. 131I-labelled antibody to the beta-1-MA was intravenously administered to tumour-bearing nude mice. Specifically connected antibodies were revealed by immunohistochemical method in colonic carcinomas only. Radioimmunological investigation has shown accumulation of 131I-labelled antibodies to the beta-1-MA in colonic carcinomas.

Rabbit antisera to an organospecific intestinal antigen are obtained. This antigen has beta 2-electromobility, is thermolabile, is not extracted by perchloric acid and phenol and immunologically differs from CEA. The antigen is found in bottom zone of colonic crypt and in carcinomas of colon and rectum.

Normal gastric mucosa and that in atrophic gastritis was studied by indirect immunoperoxidase method. Intestinal antigens CEA and beta 1MA were found in the foetal stomach and in the foci of intestinal metaplasia with and without dysplastic epithelial changes. Gastric antigens, pepsinogens of the foetal and 2-nd type, were found in foetal and adult stomach, as well as in the foci of intestinal metaplasia with dysplastic changes. The discovery of concomitant presence of gastric and colonic antigens in the dysplastic epithelium may indicate the existence of pluripotent stem cells capable of differentiation in the direction of gastric glandular epithelium, and in the direction of enterocytes. The possibility is suggested of origination of gastric carcinoma of different histologic structure from intestinal metaplasia with dysplastic changes.

The distribution of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), organ specific colonic antigen (C) and two pepsinogens (P) was studied in the peritumorous mucosa and in the tumours (one carcinoid and 3 adenomas) in the stomach of a patient, that had undergone the Bilroth-II resection 10 years before. No antigens were found in the carcinoid. C-antigen was found in the adenomas. The peritumorous gastric mucosa, morphologically not changed contained P, but not C and CEA. Mucosal areas adjacent to the adenomas had dysplastic or metaplastic changes, contained CEA and C, but didn't contain P.

Localization of organospecific gastric and intestinal antigens, as well as of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied by an indirect immune peroxidase method on the sections of fetal stomach, normal definitive stomach, gastric mucosa with features of superficial and deep gastritis, enterolysis and dysplasia, as well as in gastric tumours. Normally, pepsinogen was found to localize in zymogen cells and to disappear in enterolysis and dysplasia of gastric mucosa. Intestinal antigen is absent from the normal mucosa, but is found in all the cases with enterolysis and dysplasia. CEA is most specific for dysplasia of gastric epithelium. In cancers of intestinal type pepsinogen was found in 54%, intestinal (colonic) antigen in 37.5%, CEA in 62.5%. In diffuse type cancers pepsinogen was absent, intestinal antigen was found in 76.9%, CEA in 92% of tumours.

Immunologic techniques were used to examine localization of the intestinal antigen beta-2-MA in 87 cases of malignant gastric tumors and 25 cases of non-neoplastic diseases of the stomach. The antigen was identified in 46.4% of gastric carcinomas. The presence of the antigen was not found to be related to a histological type of cancer. The beta-2-MA antigen was detected in the areas of intestinal metaplasia alone in 48% of the cases and in combination with malignant tumors in 50.9%. The antigen was found to be more common in the mucosa adjacent to those of diffuse cancer than in the mucosa located around cancer of intestinal type (p less than 0.01). beta-2-MA is one of the antigens showing intestine-differentiated cells in a number of gastric tumors and may be useful for immunological studies of gastric neoplastic types.