J Breast Cancer.  2020 Feb;23(1):69-79. 10.4048/jbc.2020.23.e13.

Expression of Histo-blood Group Antigens in Tumor and Adjacent Normal Breast Tissues as Prognostic Markers of Breast Carcinoma

• Zouine S
• Marnissi F
• Otmani N
• Bennani Othmani M
• Zaid N
• Kojok K
• Zaid Y
• Tahiri Jouti N
• Habti N

• KMID: 2470883
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2020.23.e13

Abstract

PURPOSE
Aberrant glycosylation of the histo-blood group antigens (including the angina bullosa haemorrhagica [ABH]) is often observed during malignant transformation in most types of carcinomas. Data concerning their ethnic distributions are diverse which explains why their biological characteristics have to be studied in different populations. Our aim was to analyze the expression of the histo-blood group (specifically the ABH) antigens in breast carcinoma.
METHODS
The expression of the histo-blood group (specifically the ABH) antigens was studied in 109 patients with breast carcinoma using immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was performed using χ² and Fisher analyses.
RESULTS
The loss of expression of histo-blood group (ABH) antigens in breast carcinoma was observed in 81.13% of patients with blood group O, 37.93% with blood group A, and 96.30% with blood group B. One key finding of this study was that the loss of expression of the ABH antigen was also observed in normal tissues adjacent to the tumor. The loss of expression was associated with higher tumor grade (p < 0.05). Expression of H antigen was observed in 50% of cases with loss of expression of B antigen and was associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression (p < 0.05). The loss of H antigen in patients with blood group O was associated with estrogen receptor expression (p < 0.001). Incompatible A antigen in tumor was expressed in 20.75% of patients with blood group O.
CONCLUSION
Loss of the ABH antigens correlated with the Scarff-Bloom-Richardson histologic grading. H antigen was associated with HER2 overexpression in breast cancer. However, further studies are needed to determine the role of incompatible A antigen in mammary carcinogenesis.

Keyword

Antigens; Blood; Breast; Carcinoma; Histocompatibility

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Carcinogenesis
Estrogens
Glycosylation
Histocompatibility
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Population Characteristics
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Estrogens
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Immunohistochemical staining of mammary histological sections: Patient with blood type O; (A) Normal breast tissue showing positive staining of endothelial (V) and ductal epithelial cells (C) with anti-H antibody (× 20). (B) Ductal carcinoma with positive staining of endothelial and negative staining of tumor cells using anti-H antibody (× 20). (C) Ductal carcinoma showing positive staining of cytoplasm in tumor cells using anti-A antibody (× 20). Patient with blood type A; (D) Normal breast tissue showing positive staining of endothelial and epidermal cells using anti-A antibody (× 20). (E) Ductal carcinoma with positive staining of endothelial cells and focal positive expression of tumor cells using of anti-A antibody (× 20). (F) Ductal carcinoma showing positive staining of tumor cells using of anti-H antibody (× 20). Patient with blood type B; (G) Normal breast tissue with positive staining of endothelial and ductal epithelial cells using anti-B antibody (× 20). (H) Ductal carcinoma showing positive staining of endothelial cells and tumor cells using anti-B antibody (× 20). (I) Ductal carcinoma with negative staining of endothelial cells and positive staining of infiltrating tumor cells using anti-H antibody (× 20). C = galactophoric duct; V = vessel.

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  Figure 2 Distribution of ABH antigens expression profiles based on the SBR grade in 109 patients. N = normal mammary epithelial cells; T = tumor tissue; ABH = angina bullosa haemorrhagica; SBR = Scarff-Bloom-Richardson.

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  Figure 3 Distribution of H antigen expression profiles based on the status of ER in patients with blood group O. ER = estrogen receptor.

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  Figure 4 Expression of antigen H in tumor and HER2 status among patients with blood group B. HER2 = human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

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