Immunoperoxidase versus specific red cell adherence in detection of ABO(H) antigens on normal urothelium. Double-blind study.

In this study we compared the sensitivity of SRCA for detecting A, B, O(H) blood group antigens on the urothelial surface of normal renal pelvis, ureter, and bladder to that of immunoperoxidase staining via the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method. In all, forty-three mucosal specimens from 23 patients were compared. There was little difference between SRCA and immunoperoxidase for the detection of A and of B antigens. H(O) antigen was detected in 94 per cent of the blood group O patients using immunoperoxidase while only 46 per cent were detected using the SRCA method. We therefore concluded that immunoperoxidase was superior to SRCA in detecting the H(O) antigen not only in normal ureter but also in normal renal pelvis and normal bladder.

Avidin-biotin technique is more sensitive than lectin assay for detecting the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (T-antigen) in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Avidin biotin technique and lectin assay has been compared in a double-blind study for detection of the T-antigen in transitional carcinoma of the bladder. Utilizing the tumor registry from the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were identified. Thirty-three patients were selected with a total of 43 specimens. Tissues from 26 patients with a total of 43 specimens that showed no lesions and had no known history of genitourinary diseases were used as controls. These tissues were studied for the presence of T-antigen utilizing avidin biotin or lectin techniques. T-antigen was detected in 60% of the specimens with lectin technique, while 95% was detected with avidin biotin methods. The T-antigen was not detected by either method even after the treatment with neuraminidase in six patients. These patients had high grade and high stage tumors. This study demonstrated that normal urothelium has concealed T-antigen that can be exposed by treating the tissue with neuraminidase. However, the T-antigen is unconcealed in low grade tumor but disappears in high grade invasive tumor. Avidin biotin technique appears to be a more sensitive method for detecting the presence or absence of the T-antigen.