CA 19-9, Sialyl-Lewis a

CA 19-9 antibody reacts strongly positive with most tumour cell lines of gastrointestinal carcinoma including adenocarcinoma of the stomach, intestine, and pancreas. Positive reactivity was also found in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, adenocarcinoma of the endometrium and the gallbladder as well as in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid glands. Last but not least positive reactivity of lung carcinoma must be mentioned (adenocarcinoma, bronchio-alveolar carcinoma, squamous epithelial carcinoma, and SCLC). Sialyl Lewis a antigen is an oncofetal antigen, which appears during early development of the gastrointestinal tract. After birth it is still detectable in ductus and secretion of intestinal glands, respiratory and reproductive tract. In normal tissue Sialyl Lewis a (CA 19-9) is found in ductal epithelia of the breast, kidney, salivary glands, lung, colon, bile duct, liver, pancreas and prostate gland. Sialyl Lewis a antigen (Cancer Antigen CA 19-9).