Combined staining of TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125 improves labeling sensitivity in ovarian cancer: antigens for multi-targeted antibody-guided therapy

J Histochem Cytochem. 2007 Aug;55(8):867-75. doi: 10.1369/jhc.7A7213.2007. Epub 2007 May 3.

Abstract

Single antigen-targeted intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy for ovarian cancer has shown limited success. Due to the heterogeneous expression of tumor antigens on cancer cells, a multi-antigen targeting approach appears logical to augment the therapeutic efficacy of antibody-guided therapy. In the interest of developing this novel approach, ovarian cancer tissue microarray slides containing cancer and benign/non-neoplastic tissue samples (n=92) were processed for single-, double-, and triple-antigen labeling using antibodies for the tumor-associated antigens TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125. Among all ovarian cancer types, 72%, 61%, and 50% of the samples showed immunolabeling for TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125, respectively. Expression level of these antigens was significantly (p<0.005) higher in advanced stage carcinomas compared with early stage. Of the 48 epithelial ovarian cancer samples, individual anti-TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125 antibody probing showed labeling in 89.5%, 87.5%, and 73.0% of the cases, respectively. In the majority of the cancer samples (>70%), a heterogeneous labeling pattern was observed (only 30-40% of the cancer cells within the sample were labeled). However, upon combining the three antigens (triple-antigen labeling), 98% of the epithelial ovarian cancer samples were labeled and >95% of the cancer cells within each sample were labeled. Our data indicate that the heterogeneous expression of cancer antigens appears to be a major obstacle in antibody-guided therapy, and this can be overcome by multiple antigen targeting. Therapeutic efficacy of antibody-guided therapy for ovarian cancer treatment will be enhanced by the combined targeting of TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • CA-125 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Drug Carriers
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mucin-1
  • Mucins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Tissue Array Analysis

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • Drug Carriers
  • Glycoproteins
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • Mucins
  • tumor-associated antigen 72