Sucrase-isomaltase expression and enterocytic ultrastructure of human colorectal tumors.

We report the relative frequency of sucrase-isomaltase (SI) antigen expression in human colonic adenocarcinoma (22/57), in peritumoral mucosa taken next to the tumor (31/41) or distant from it (29/42) as well as in 21/23 polyps. Our results are based on indirect immunofluorescence with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for human intestinal SI. A regular and intense expression of SI occurred only in 6 tumor specimens. In the remaining 16 SI-positive tumor samples, labelling was heterogeneous, i.e., scattered over more or less extensive areas. A similar irregular staining pattern was also found in polyps and in peritumoral mucosa, irrespective of its distance from the tumor. Electron microscopic examination of 19 carcinomas mostly revealed altered brush-border membrane features, irrespective of histological SI staining pattern. Brush-border enzyme activities of sucrase, alkaline phosphatase and maltase showed no difference between tumor specimens and peritumoral mucosa, but aminopeptidase was depressed in the former. Sucrase activity was extremely low (mean values 1.1 to 1.8 mU/mg protein) and rose only exceptionally to 17.5 mU/mg prot.