Immunohistochemical studies on a new antigens associated with squamous cell cancer in oncogenesis of uterine cervical cancer

: We examined the localization of squamous cell cancer associated antigens (SCCAA) in dysplasia, cancer in situ (CIS) and microinvasive SCC of the uterine cervix, since detection of SCCAA in these subjects is highly effective for early diagnosis. Anti-squamous cell cancer associated antibody (Anti SCCAAb IgG) was prepared by immunizing rabbits with specific components at around PI 6.1 that were originally purified from SCC of maxillary sinus. In this study, the following results were obtained by the immunoperoxidase method. (1) Eleven out of 15(73%) cases of dysplasia, 20 out of 26(77%) cases of CIS, 21 out of 24(88%) cases of Stage I, 13 out of 14(93%) cases of Stage II and 9 out of 10(90%) cases of Stage III-IV in the clinical stages of SCC showed positive staining, while controls of unrelated SCC were almost negative. (2) The SCCAA positive ratio was 2 out of 2 cases of small cell nonkeratinized type, 86% in large cell nonkeratinized type and 94% in Keratinized type of SCC. (3) The SCCAA was demonstrated on all the layers of stratified squamous epithelium in a lesion of CIS and some layers migrated to adjacent nonneoplastic lesion with lateral invasion in middle layer. These results suggest that the demonstration of SCCAA may be useful in diagnosing the malignant transformation of squamous epithelium in the early stage of SCC.