Monoclonal Antibodies Against Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Distribution of DU-PAN-2 Antigen on Glandular

ABSTRACT-This report describes the distribution of antigen DU-PAN-2, defined by a monoclonal antibody raised against human pancreatic carcinoma cells, on a variety of tumors and nonneoplastic tissues. With the use of an immunoperoxidase technique, the antigen was detected on 16 of 16 pancreatic carcinomas, on 5 of 5 gallbladder or bile dLict carcinomas, on the great majority of stomach adenocarcinomas, and, less commonly, on adenocarcinomas of other primary sites. Substantial intra-tumor heterogeneity of antigen expression was noted. DU-PAN-2 antigen was present on many types of normal glandular epithelial cells but often was more weakly expressed than on the cor-responding tumors. The immunomorphology of staining, coupled with biochemical information known about the antigen, supports the notion that the DU-PAN-2 antigen is a mucin-like substance. Its relative restriction of expression on different types of glan