Distribution of VRA09, an ovarian tumor-associated antigen, distinguishing borderline serous tumors.

We recently reported the characterization of an antigen designated VRA09, identified by a monoclonal antibody and overexpressed on the surface of vincristine-resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells. In the present study, we analyze the distribution of this antigen in normal and tumor tissues. Its pattern of expression appears to differ from that described for other drug-resistance- and/or tumor-associated antigens. In normal tissues, the antigen has a restricted histological distribution and appears to be localized in mesoderm-derived tissues. In tumor tissues, VRA09 expression was mainly detected in serous ovarian tumors. Indeed, VRA09 is strongly expressed in papillary serous cystadenocarcinomas and their metastases, and more specifically in the basement membranes of serous tumors of borderline malignancy. In contrast, no immunostaining was observed in normal ovarian tissue or benign tumors. The detection of this antigen may help to identify serous ovarian tumors by distinguishing tumors of low malignancy from cystadenocarcinomas.