Immunohistochemical distribution of CA19-9 in normal and tumor tissues of the kidney.

The immunohistochemical distribution of CA19-9 in normal and tumor tissue of the kidney was investigated. CA19-9 was detected in the cytoplasm and apical surface of renal proximal tubules, distal tubules and uroepithelium of the renal pelvis. Eight of 28 renal cell carcinomas (29%) expressed CA19-9. CA19-9 was also detected in 2 cases of transitional cell carcinoma and 1 of 4 cases of Wilm's tumor, but not in angiomyolipoma. As the measurement of CA19-9 is widely used to detect gastrointestinal carcinoma, the expression of CA19-9 in normal and neoplastic kidney tissue might have some clinical significance.