[Lectin histochemistry of primary and metastatic tumor cells of laryngeal cancer].

In order to clarify possible alterations of membrane-, and cytoplasma-glycoconjugates of laryngeal cancer cells in metastatic process, a histochemical study was performed on laryngeal squamous carcinoma, using seven lectins conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP); PNA, UEA-I, WGA, RCA-I, DBA, SBA and MPA. The author studied 32 primary tumors and 32 corresponding metastatic tumors obtained from 32 patients and primary tumors from 8 patients without histological evidence of lymph node metastasis. None of the patients underwent irradiation or chemotherapy before operation. The specimens were provided for routine lectin histochemistry. The present study revealed some significant differences in lectin-binding as follows. Primary tumor vs. metastatic tumor: There was a significant difference in lectin-binding between primary and metastatic cancer cells. 29 (90.0%) of 32 primary tumors were positive for MPA-staining. On the other hand, 21 (65.6%) of 32 metastatic tumors were positive for MPA-staining. There was a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) difference between primary and metastatic tumors with regard to MPA-binding. Primary tumor cells tended to more bind with lectins than with metastatic tumor cells. Well-differentiated primary tumor vs. moderately differentiated primary tumor: There was a significant difference in lectin-binding between these two types of tumors. Of 15 well-differentiated primary tumors, 13 (86.7%) showed SBA binding. The percentage of SBA-binding was significantly higher in well-differentiated tumor than in moderately differentiated primary tumors (50%, 8/16). Keratinization vs. non-keratinization: There was a significant difference in lectin-binding between keratinized and non-keratinized tumor cells in both primary and metastatic lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)