Expression of differentiation antigens in benign sweat gland tumours

Abstract

Benign sweat gland tumors (50) were studied for the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and apocrine epithelial antigen (AEA), using immunohistochemical methods. CEA was found in 32 and AEA in 33 neoplasms. Both antigens were located in the epithelium of the luminal structures and in the intraluminar material and CEA was occasionally found also in proliferating cells. Coexpression of CEA and AEA occurred frequently in cases of syringoma, syringocystadenoma papilliferum, hidradenoma papilliferum, eccrine spiradenoma and clear cell hidradenoma. AEA was seen also in tumors showing eccrine differentiation, even though it is not present in normal eccrine sweat ducts.