Changes of blood group antigens in premalignant and malignant lesions of the human exocervix

In this preliminary study the distribution of blood group A- and H-antigens and their structural precursor N-acetyllactosamine in normal, pre-malignant and malignant squamous epithelium were investigated using the immunofluorescence technique. In normal cervical epithelium the basal cells and few parabasal cells expressed N-acetyllactosamine. The parabasal and lower spinous cells expressed the H-antigen and the upper spinous layer expressed the A-antigen. All pre-malignant and malignant lesions showed irregular decrease in contents of A- and H-antigens. N-acetyllactosamine was either completely lost or found to accumulate in these lesions, and it is suggested that this antigen could be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of cervical cancer.