Lectin Histochemistry for Metastasizing and Non-metastasizing Cancer Cells.
Changes in glycosylation of the cancer cell glycocalyx are a hallmark of metastasizing cancers and critically contribute to distant metastasis. In this chapter we concentrate on two lectins capable of specifically binding tumor-associated glycans in cryostat or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections derived from primary clinical material, genetically engineered mouse models with endogenous cancer formation or xenograft mouse models. The snail lectin of Helix pomatia (HPA) binds N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) that is expressed among others as Tn antigen (O-linked GalNAc) in primary tumors and metastases in several human adenocarcinomas. Another lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) binds to complex β1-6 branched N-linked oligosaccharides associated with increased metastatic potential in breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Using these two lectins both O- and N-linked alterations in the glycocalyx of cancer cells can be monitored. As they are commercially available in a biotinylated or fluorescence-labeled form they can be readily used in cancer metastasis studies.
Medical Glycobiology Group, Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. ge.wolters@uke.de.
Gerrit
G
Wolters-Eisfeld
Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Udo
U
Schumacher
D000818:Animals; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D015415:Biomarkers; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006031:Glycosylation; D064593:Heterografts; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011485:Protein Binding
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D015415:Biomarkers; D037102:Lectins; C040286:Tn antigen
Cancer cell glycosylation; Clinical studies; Helix pomatia agglutin (HPA); Lectin histochemistry; Metastasis formation; Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L); Tn antigen; Xenograft models