Abstract

• For the study of relationship between gastric polyps and gastric carcinoma, the tissue carcinoembryonic antigen, so called tumor marker, was investigated by immunoperoxidase method with paraffin embedded block in the gastric epithelial polyps and adenocarcinoma. The representative lesions of the hyperplastic polyps(6 cases), adenomatous polyps(5 cases), and adenocarcinoma(6 cases) consisting of pyloreocardiac cell type, intestinal cell type and mucous cell type, were selected. The following results were obtained. 1) The reactions of tissue CEA in the adenocarcinoma were more strong than those of gastric hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps. 2) The CEA of adenomatous polyps was demonstrated within the cytoplasm of glands and along the glandular luminal border, while the hyperplastic polyps showed CEA only along the luminal border of the gland in weak positive reaction. 3) The adenocarcinoma showed the CEA in the stroma around the cancer cells and within the glandular lumens of the cancer tissue as well as the cytoplasm of the cancer cells and glandular luminal border. 4) Among the adenocarcinomas of the stomach, the pyloro-cardiac cell and mucous cell types demonstrated more strong positive reaction for CEA than that of intestinal cell type.