title: Lectin histochemistry as a predictor of dysplasia grade in colorectal adenomas.
abstract: Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that bind to specific cellular carbohydrates, commonly affecting cellular physiology. Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA), ulex europaeus isoagglutinin-I (UEA-I), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) are among the most well studied lectins in various tissues. The purpose of this study was to detect the above lectins  binding sites and so examine alterations in glycoconjugate expression in neoplastic cells of 52 colorectal adenomas with various clinicopathologic characteristics and proliferation rates. Lectin histochemistry was performed in paraffin sections with and without neuraminidase treatment. Proliferative fraction was determined by immunolabelling for Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen. PHA was the more frequently positive lectin in the examined specimens; however, it was simultaneously detected in normal colonic mucosa and so was WGA. The frequency of high grade dysplasia was significantly greater in older patients and in samples with UEA-I positivity without neuraminidase pretreatment. UEA-I-reactive adenomas were generally characterized by high cell proliferation rates. A statistical model based on patients  age and UEA-I binding without neuraminidase treatment can generally predict grade of dysplasia in 83% of adenomas and particularly high grade dysplasia in up to 93% of adenomas; so, such a model may be potentially useful for the early detection of neoplasia, for instance in exfoliative cells from the large intestine.
authors.affiliation: The Athens National University Medical Faculty, Department of Anatomic Pathology 75 Mikras Asias Str., Goudi, Athens, GR-115 27, Greece. alazaris@cc.uoa.gr
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lazaris
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Chatzigianni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paraskevakou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tseleni-Balafouta
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Davaris
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002455:Cell Division; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; C100156:leukoagglutinins, plants; D009439:Neuraminidase