Ca15.3

Ca15.3 corresponds to the MUC1 gene product, similar to epithelial membrane antigen. The monoclonal antibody is available commercially under the designation CA 15-3 MoAb and stains formalin-fixed tissue after antigen retrieval.

Immunohistochemical expression

• many normal epithelia1

• the majority of carcinoma1

• synovial sarcoma1

• some normal haemopoietic tissues1

• some haematolymphoid tumours1

• follicular dendritic reticulum cells1

• plasma cells and plasmablasts in myeloma1

• immature erythroblastic cells in myelodysplasia1

• T cell rich B cell lymphomas1

• anaplastic large cell lymphomas1

• L&H cells in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (7/8 cases1)

• there is weak staining of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells in classical Hodgkin's disease1

Diagnostic utility

Serum CA15.3 is more sensitive than CEA in the detection of recurrent breast carcinoma2.

References

1 Delsol G, New antibodies and new applications of old antibodies in the diagnosis of hematolymphoid neoplasms. In Immunohistochemistry Long Course, Nice, October 18-23, 1998.

2 Colomer R, Ruibal A, Genolla J, et al. Circulating CA 15-3 levels in the postsurgical follow-up of breast cancer patients and in non-malignant diseases. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1989; 13:123-33

Kufe D, Inghirami G, Abe M, et al. Differential reactivity of a novel monoclonal antibody (DF3) with human malignant versus benign breast tumors. Hybridoma 1984; 3:223-32

Ho JJ, Chung YS, Yuan M, et al. Differences in expression of SPan-1 and CA15-3 antigens in blood and tissues. Int J Cancer 1992; 52:693-700

©SMUHT/PW Bishop