Blood Group Substance a in Carcinomas of the Larynx

Abstract

Tissue from 9 squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx were investigated for the presence of blood group antigen A. The antigen reactivity in the carcinomas was compared, by titration, with the reactivity of adjacent normal epithelium in the same specimen. Normal epithelium reacted positively in all cases except one. In this case the normal epithelium contained areas showing no reactivity for blood group antigen. In 4 out of 9 cases the malignant cells gave completely negative reaction. In 4 specimens there was a patchy distribution of positive reacting cells within the carcinoma. In one specimen the majority of cells in the carcinoma showed no decrease in reactivity.