| Abstract: | Epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) is a component of the human milk fat globule membrane. The production of EMA is increased in both squamous and non-squamous epithelium in a variety of diseases including many neoplasms. Using antihuman EMA monoclonal antibody, an immunoperoxidase stain for EMA was done in normal or neoplastic cervical epithelia and endometrium. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were obtained by either colposcopic biopsy or surgical excision of the uterus from 61 patients. Ethanol fixed imprint smears were obtained from surgically removed uteri from 84 patients. The difference between normal cervical squamous epithelium and dysplasia or carcinoma of the cervix in intensity or patterns of staining for EMA reflected the progression of the neoplastic change in the cervix. The different EMA localization in well differentiated adenocarcinoma and moderately or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the cervix and the endometrium was correlated with histological differentiation. |
