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Published on: January 21, 2019
GLUT1 antibody staining in thin-layer specimens of benign and malignant body cavity effusions
Leon S Mensch1, Lindsay Weller, Linda Simmons-Arnold
1Division of Experimental Pathology, Fletcher Allen Health Care, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
Insights
Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) antibody shows promise as a replacement for some antiepithelial antibodies in diagnosing adenocarcinoma. Combining GLUT1 with B72.3 effectively identified all carcinoma cases in this study.
Area of Science:
- Immunocytochemistry
- Cancer diagnostics
- Histopathology
Background:
- Evaluating new biomarkers for cancer diagnosis is crucial.
- Traditional antiepithelial antibodies have limitations.
- ThinPrep methodology offers advantages for cytological sample preparation.
Observation:
- A prospective study assessed GLUT1, CEA, B72.3, and Leu-M1 antibodies using ThinPrep slides.
- Malignant and benign effusions were analyzed.
- Positive and negative controls were utilized to ensure assay validity.
Findings:
- GLUT1 and B72.3 demonstrated 63.6% sensitivity in detecting adenocarcinoma.
- CEA and Leu-M1 showed 54.5% sensitivity.
- No false positives were observed; one benign case was an occult true positive.
Implications:
- GLUT1 antibody shows comparable sensitivity to existing markers for adenocarcinoma detection.
- A panel including GLUT1 and B72.3 could potentially identify all adenocarcinoma cases.
- ThinPrep methodology is suitable for immunocytochemical evaluation in cancer diagnostics.
Objective:
To determine whether GLUT1 antibody could replace one or more of the currently used antiepithelial antibodies and to assess whether ThinPrep methodology is suited to immunocytochemical (ICC) evaluation.
Study Design:
In a prospective study of 10 fluids containing malignant cells from cases of proven adenocarcinoma and 10 cytologically benign effusions, multiple slides were prepared by ThinPrep technology for staining with four commercially available antibodies and appropriate isotype-matched negative controls. The antibodies used were GLUT1, CEA, B72.3 and Leu-M1 (CD 15). Tissue sections and ThinPrep slides were used as positive controls. Specimens were batched to ensure similar conditions for all antibody reactions.
Results:
Of the 11 cases ultimately proven to be carcinoma, GLUT1 and B72.3 stained 7 each (63.6%), and CEA and Leu-M1 6 each (54.5%). No false positive staining was encountered, but one case chosen as a benign control was shown to contain immunopositive cells by three of the four epithelial markers used; this case was therefore an occult true positive rather than a false positive.
Conclusion:
In this small but controlled prospective analysis, GLUT1 demonstrated strong positive staining, with sensitivity similar to that of currently used epithelial markers. Using GLUT1 in conjunction with B72.3, no cases of carcinoma were missed. GLUT1 could be used in a panel of antibodies designed to confirm the presence of adenocarcinoma. ThinPrep methodology, which enables multiple slides to be prepared after routine microscopy determines the need for ICC, appears suited to this adjuvant investigation.
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