title: Lectin histochemistry of malignant fibrohistiocytic tumors.
abstract: The staining pattern by Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), a lectin used as a good marker for histiocytes, in 24 cases with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) was studied and compared with that of 12 cases of fibrosarcoma (FS). In 20 (83%) of 24 cases of MFH, varying degrees of RCA binding were observed, whereas only four (33%) of 12 cases of FS were positive. RCA-positive FS included three cases with infantile FS and one adult case with post-radiation FS. Eight adult patients with FS were entirely negative. This positivity rate of RCA binding in MFH was much higher than those of antisera against lysozyme, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin previously reported. Seven MFH patients with focal aggregation of RCA-positive benign-appearing (reactive) histiocytes died earlier than the other patients with only scattered RCA-positive histiocytes; 5-year survival rates were 32% and 69%, respectively (p less than 0.05). These findings suggest that RCA reactivity can be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for MFH.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002367:Ricinus communis; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000032:analysis*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000032:analysis*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C017707:Ricinus communis agglutinin-1; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D009113:Muramidase