Expression of carbohydrate antigens (SSEA-1, sialyl-Lewis X, DU-PAN-2 and CA19-9) and E-selectin in urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis, ureter, and urinary bladder.

Carbohydrate antigens and E-selectin play important roles in the invasion and metastasis of cancers. We examined the expression of these antigens and their ligand protein, E-selectin, in urothelial carcinomas to evaluate whether their staining is correlated with the grade and stage of cancer. We studied the expression of carbohydrate antigens (type 1 and type 2 blood-group antigens) and E-selectin in urothelial carcinomas of the renal pelvis, ureter, and urinary bladder in 52 patients by staining SSEA-1 (LeX), sialyl LeX (sLeX), DU-PAN-2, CA19-9, and E-selectin with 5 different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to evaluate whether their staining correlated with cancer grade and stage. The differences between organs with regard to the degree of expression of these antigens were not evident. Type 2 antigens (SSEA-1 and sialyl LeX) are frequently expressed in the tumor cells regardless of atypical grade. The expression level of type 1 antigens (DU-PAN-2 and CA19-9) is lower than that of type 2 antigens. However, the presence of DU-PAN-2 tends to correlate with the grade of atypia; however, that of CA19-9 is inversely proportional to the grade of atypia. The lack of CA19-9 and appearance of DU-PAN-2 in urothelial carcinoma implies a high malignant potential. The expression of E-selectin can be correlated with stage and grade of tumor atypia. Type 2 antigen and E-selectin may be involved in tumor invasion and metastasis.