Leu-M1 antigen in human neoplasms. An immunohistologic study of 400 cases

Our plain-English summary of Leu-M1 antigen in human neoplasms. An immunohistologic study of 400 cases, by K. Sheibani, H. Battifora, J.S. Burke, et al (The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 1986).

The study

• Authors: K. Sheibani, H. Battifora, J.S. Burke, H. Rappaport
• Journal: The American Journal of Surgical Pathology
• Published: 1986;10(4):227-36
• Cited by: 190 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Several studies have shown that the Leu-M1 antigen, a monocyte/granulocyte-related marker, is consistently expressed by the neoplastic cells of patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD). It has been suggested that reactivity of Reed-Sternberg cells with Leu-M1 can be used in support of a morphologic interpretation of HD, and that it is helpful in the differential diagnosis of HD from morphologically similar lesions. To evaluate the significance of the Leu-M1 positivity of Reed-Sternberg cells in the diagnosis of HD, we investigated the distribution of Leu-M1 antigen in a series of patients with HD, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and nonhematopoietic neoplasms. We were able to demonstrate the presence of Leu-M1 antigen not only in the majority of patients with HD, but also in 12 of 18 (67%) peripheral T-cell lymphomas, as well as in a variety of nonhematopoietic neoplasms, which included 113 of 199 carcinomas, most of them (58%) adenocarcinomas. Only one of 34 sarcomas showed a focal positive reaction. Leu-M1-related antigen was not detected in any of 18 mesotheliomas, 15 germ cell tumors, 13 melanomas, three schwannomas, or three astrocytomas. Our study indicates that Leu-M1 positivity has no value in supporting the diagnosis of HD in situations where the histologic diagnosis of HD is doubtful. However, since anti-Leu-M1 reacted positively in the majority of adenocarcinomas but was absent in mesotheliomas, melanomas, and most sarcomas, this antigen could serve as a new marker that may be helpful in situations in which carcinoma is a part of the differential diagnosis.

In plain English

This laboratory study tested whether tumors stain with an antibody against the Leu-M1 antigen, described by the authors as a monocyte/granulocyte-related marker. The authors examined 400 specimens, including 45 Hodgkin's disease cases, 55 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and 297 nonhematopoietic tumors. The article does not discuss asbestos exposure. Hodgkin's disease specimens were positive in 35 of 45 (77%), as were 12 of 18 peripheral T-cell lymphomas; none of 17 B-cell lymphomas stained. For carcinomas, the table prints 119 of 199 (56%) positive, but the abstract gives 113 of 199, matching the subtype counts. Adenocarcinomas were positive in 105 of 179 (58%), including all 16 lung adenocarcinomas. None of 18 mesotheliomas, 15 germ cell tumors or 13 melanomas stained. One of 34 sarcomas was counted positive, with focal, weak staining. Almost all normal epithelial tissues showed variable staining. The authors concluded that a positive Leu-M1 stain does not support a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease when that diagnosis is in doubt. Calling their observations preliminary, they also concluded that Leu-M1 could be used as a marker to distinguish adenocarcinomas from mesotheliomas.

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 (immunohistochemical) study of archived tumor and normal tissue specimens
• Who was studied: 400 specimens from patients with malignant and benign disorders: 45 Hodgkin's disease, 55 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 3 anaplastic myelomas and 297 nonhematopoietic neoplasms (including 18 mesotheliomas). The article does not give dates or patient details.
• Exposure: Not studied: the article reports no asbestos or other occupational exposure. What was tested is staining of tissue with the anti-Leu-M1 antibody.
• Main results:
  • Hodgkin's disease: 35 of 45 cases (77%) were Leu-M1 positive
  • Peripheral T-cell lymphoma: 12 of 18 immunoblastic variants were positive
  • B-cell lymphomas: none of 17 stained
  • Carcinomas: the article gives conflicting totals. Table 1 prints 119/199 (56%).
  • Carcinomas: the abstract gives 113 of 199 positive. This matches the positive counts listed in Table 1 for adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, undifferentiated large cell and undifferentiated small cell carcinoma (105+3+4+1 of 179+6+10+4).
  • Adenocarcinomas: 105 of 179 (58%) were positive, including all 16 adenocarcinomas of pulmonary (lung) origin
  • Mesotheliomas: none of 18 were positive. Germ cell tumors (15), melanomas (13), schwannomas (3) and astrocytomas (3) were also all negative.
  • Sarcomas: 1 of 34 was interpreted as positive, an undifferentiated sarcoma with focal and weak staining
  • Normal tissue: almost all normal epithelial tissues showed variable Leu-M1 expression
  • The authors stated that Leu-M1 positivity has no value in supporting a Hodgkin's disease diagnosis where the histologic diagnosis is doubtful
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded, from what they called preliminary observations, that because Leu-M1 was expressed by most lung adenocarcinomas and absent in all mesotheliomas they evaluated, it could be used as a marker to distinguish adenocarcinomas from mesotheliomas.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors described their adenocarcinoma-versus-mesothelioma findings as preliminary
  • In frozen sections of Hodgkin's disease, an endogenous peroxidase reaction made B-cell markers somewhat difficult to interpret

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Neoplasm, Differential Diagnosis, Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Sarcoma, Mesothelioma, Germ Cell Tumor.

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