Immunoperoxidase localization of keratin proteins, carcinoembryonic antigen, and factor VIII in adenomatoid tumors: evidence for a mesothelial derivation

Our plain-English summary of Immunoperoxidase localization of keratin proteins, carcinoembryonic antigen, and factor VIII in adenomatoid tumors: evidence for a mesothelial derivation, by J.W. Said, G. Nash, M. Lee (Human Pathology, 1982).

The study

• Authors: J.W. Said, G. Nash, M. Lee
• Journal: Human Pathology
• Published: 1982;13(12):1106-8
• Cited by: 53 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

The histogenesis of adenomatoid tumors has been a source of controversy. Although most investigators favor a mesothelial derivation, recent ultrastructural evidence suggests that some adenomatoid tumors may be vascular neoplasms. This study reports the pattern of staining of seven adenomatoid tumors with antisera to keratin, factor VIII, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), using an immunoperoxidase technique. All the tumors revealed strong cytoplasmic staining for keratin with no staining for factor VIII (an endothelial cell marker) or CEA. An identical staining pattern was evident in normal and reactive mesothelial cells. These findings support a mesothelial rather than an endothelial derivation for the tumors studied.

In plain English

This laboratory study examined tissue from seven adenomatoid tumors, a tumor of the genital tract. The samples came from the surgical pathology files of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Three tumors were in the uterine wall, three in the fallopian tube and one in the epididymis. The authors asked whether these tumors come from mesothelial cells, which line body surfaces, or from blood-vessel lining cells. They stained sections for keratin, for factor VIII (a marker of blood-vessel lining cells) and for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Cells in all seven tumors stained strongly for keratin, while the tumor's supporting tissue (stroma), blood vessels and blood-vessel lining cells did not. Tumor cells showed no staining for factor VIII, and no section stained for CEA. Mesothelial cells lining organ surfaces also stained strongly for keratin. In one fallopian tube, mesothelial cells near the tumor extended into the tube wall, which the authors suggested might be a site of origin. The authors concluded that the findings support a mesothelial rather than a blood-vessel origin for the tumors studied. The article does not discuss asbestos.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory immunohistochemistry (immunoperoxidase staining) study of archived tumor tissue
• Who was studied: Seven adenomatoid tumors from the Surgical Pathology files of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles: three in the uterine wall, three in the fallopian tube and one in the epididymis. The article does not give the dates of the cases.
• Main results:
  • In all seven tumors, the tumor cells showed strong staining for keratin inside the cell.
  • The tumor stroma (supporting tissue), blood vessels and endothelial cells did not stain for keratin.
  • Mesothelial cells lining the surface of the organs and peritoneal adhesions stained strongly for keratin.
  • Tumor cells showed no staining for factor VIII, an endothelial (blood-vessel lining) cell marker.
  • No section showed staining for CEA.
  • In one fallopian tube, mesothelial cells on the surface near the tumor had proliferated and extended into the muscular wall. The authors suggested this could be a possible site of origin.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the staining pattern supports a mesothelial rather than an endothelial (blood-vessel) origin for the adenomatoid tumors studied.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Adenomatoid Tumor, Neoplasm, Reactive Mesothelial Cells.

Related studies

• Keratin proteins and carcinoembryonic antigen in lung carcinoma: an immunoperoxidase study of fifty-four cases, with ultrastructural correlations — J.W. Said, G. Nash, et al. (1983)
• The distinction of adenocarcinoma from malignant mesothelioma in cell blocks of effusions: the role of routine mucin histochemistry and immunohistochemical assessment of carcinoembryonic antigen, keratin proteins, epithelial membrane antigen, and milk fat globule-derived antigen — E.S. Cibas, J.M. Corson, et al. (1987)
• Keratin protein immunoreactivity of sarcomatoid and mixed types of diffuse malignant mesothelioma: an immunoperoxidase study of 30 cases — A.G. Montag, G.S. Pinkus, et al. (1988)
• Factor VIII-related antigen in malignant mesotheliomas — A.J. Balaton (1985)
• Immunocytological staining reactions of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen, Ca, and anti-human milk fat globule monoclonal antibodies on benign and malignant exfoliated mesothelial cells — A.K. Ghosh, E.B. Butler (1987)
• Lung surfactant protein-A and carcinoembryonic antigen in pleural effusions due to lung adenocarcinoma and malignant mesothelioma — N. Shijubo, Y. Honda, et al. (1995)

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