Description

Tumor-associated glycoprotein (TAG-72) is a mucin-like glycoprotein that is overexpressed in many different cancers. Majority of human adenocarcinomas including colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, ovarian, endometrial, mammary, and non-small cell lung cancer display some cell populations that are positive for TAG-72 staining. TAG-72 (B72.3) is reportedly useful in distinguishing pulmonary adenocarcinomas (B72.3+) from pleural mesotheliomas (B72.3-). A Publication suggests that TAG-72 is involved in the pathogenesis of gliomas. The same study demonstrated that TAG-72 is not expressed in normal brain tissues whereas more than half of all glioma tissues express TAG-72 and that expression is related to severity of tumor malignancy.