title: Lectin histochemistry of metastatic adenocarcinomas of the lung.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several clinical studies indicate that primary tumour cells with high metastatic potential often show aberrant glycosylation as detected by lectin histochemistry. However, it is unclear whether aberrant glycosylation is still present in metastatic deposits. The aim of the present investigation was thus to analyse a possible association between the presence of lectin binding sites of pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells and their lymph node and haematogenous metastatic cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this purpose, the expression of HPA, PHA-L and UEA-I was assessed in primary tumours, lymph node metastases and haematogenous metastases of 96 patients with metastatic adenocarcinomas of the lung that underwent surgery between 1999 and 2002. Besides, lectin-binding data and other known prognostic factors were correlated with survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant positive correlation between the binding of the lectins HPA (p=0.002), PHA-L (p<0.00001) and UEA-I (p<0.00001) to the cells of the primary tumour and to their lymph node metastases. There was a positive correlation between the binding of HPA to the cells of the primary tumour and the haematogenous metastases as well. Patients with tumours which did not show HPA binding sites had a median overall survival of 27.9 months (95%-CI 7.7-infinity months). Patients with a HPA binding tumour had a median overall survival of 20.9 months (95%-CI 18.5-28.7 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first investigation to demonstrate a positive correlation between the binding of the lectins HPA, PHA-L and UEA-I to the cells of the primary tumour and to their lymph node metastases. Expression of HPA binding sites is also preserved in the haematogenous metastases. In summary, our results support the hypothesis that altered glycosylation of the membrane-bound glycoproteins of the tumour cells is associated with, but not sufficient for promotion of lymphogenic and haematogenous metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. i.thoem@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thöm
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schult-Kronefeld
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burkholder
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goern
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andritzky
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blonski
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kugler
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edler
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bokemeyer
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laack
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001665:Binding Sites; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D039762:Ulex
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; C038095:Helix lectin; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D037102:Lectins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; C100156:leukoagglutinins, plants