Immunohistochemical demonstration of the loss of immunoreactive amylase from neoplastic human salivary gland

Summary Antihuman parotid amylase antibodies raised in rabbits and horses were used as the primary antibodies in both the peroxidase-antiperoxidase and sandwich techniques for the localization of human amylase. Immunoreactive enzyme was demonstrated in the normal acinar cells of salivary glands and pancreas. Malignant transformation, which has occasionally resulted in ectopic production of amylase by various tissues, actually caused a loss of amylase synthesis by the transformed acinar cells of salivary glands and did not result in elaboration of amylase by transformed ductal cells.Acknowledgment. This is publication No. 80-27 and was supported in part by National Institutes of Health research grant GM-19178.