Cervical carcinoma antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) in appraisal of uterine cervix smears.

The distribution of cervical carcinoma antigens (AgCaCx), CEA, and NCA in different pathologic states of the uterine cervix was studied in cytologic smears by an immunofluorescence method (IF) using specific immune sera against perchloric acid (PCA) extract of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, anti-CEA, and anti-NCA. After excluding cross-reactivity with CEA and NCA, the presence of AgCaCx was demonstrated in the majority of cervical carcinomas, severe dysplasias, and only in one-fourth of squamous metaplasias, especially when accompanied by mild or moderate dysplasias. The intensity and percentage of IF-positive cells varied from case to case.

Tumor-associated antigens in female genital tract cancers.

The immunologic reactivity of glycoprotein antigens extractable from individual, histologically different ovarian and uterine cancers was studied taking into account their relationship with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA), alpha-feto-protein (AFP), and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. All studies were performed using specific immune sera against perchloric acid (PCA) extracts of ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (anti-PCA-CaOm) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (anti-PCA-CaCx), and antisera against the reference antigens mentioned above. A considerable antigenic heterogeneity and the existence of several immunologically related antigenic systems were found: 1) CEA-like antigens; 2) NCA-type antigens; 3) an antigen different from CEA and NCA present in ovarian mucinous adenocarcinomas and often cross-reacting, but not identical with respective antigens of uterine body and cervical carcinomas; 4) an antigen reacting with anti-alpha-1-anti-chymotrypsin serum; and 5) an antigen reacting with anti-AFP serum.