Blood group antigen expression and prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Immunohistochemical staining of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, stage IB to IV, with monoclonal antibodies against blood group antigens shows retained expression of the antigen in two thirds of the patients, regardless of stage. The over-all 5 year survival of the 115 patients was 60%, 71% in the antigen positive group, 37% in the antigen negative group. The loss of blood group antigen expression thus implies a worse prognosis in all stages of cervical carcinoma and could be used as a predictive marker.