QUANTITATIVE COMPUTERIZED IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF TN AND T (THOMSEN-FRIEDENREICH) EPITOPES IN PROGNOSTICATION OF HUMAN BREAST-CARCINOMA

The precursors of the blood group N and M-immunodominant structures, T n and T (Thomsen-Friedenreich) epitopes (EPs) occur in similar to 90% of carcinomas (CAs) but are masked in benign-diseased and healthy tiss ues. We determined quantitatively on 55 primary invasive ductal breast CAs, stages I to IV, the prognostic value of extent of Tn and T EP ex pression over an observation period exceeding 5 years postoperatively. Classical, established pathological and histological prognostic chara cteristic indicators associated with survival were subdivided by stand ard criteria into favorable and unfavorable categories. Tissue section s were reacted with monoclonal anti-Tn and -T antibodies, followed by the streptavidin-biotin- -peroxidase-DAB procedure; counterstain was m ethyl green. Tn and T EPs were then quantitated by computerized image analysis. Of the 55 CAs, 51 clearly expressed Tn and T, and four had t races. Strong Tn EP expression was statistically significantly associa ted with shortened 5-year disease-free interval, increasing pTNM stage s, positive lymph node status, and increasing combined histological gr ades. T EPs were usually well expressed but showed no significant asso ciation with prognostic factors. Our results suggest that quantitative immunohistochemistry-image analysis of Tn EPs of primary breast CAs m ay add new parameters to prognostication.