Lectin Histochemistry Shows WGA, PHA-L and HPA Binding Increases During Progression of Human Colorectal Cancer

Background/Aim: Most colorectal carcinomas develop from an adenoma-carcinoma sequence to metastatic disease. The aim of the present study was to use lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins, to detect changes in glycosylation during this malignant progression. Materials and Methods: Sections from normal colorectal mucosa, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, submucosal colorectal carcinoma and metastases from patients who underwent colorectal surgery were stained by lectins with different sugar specificities namely agglutins from Wheatgerm (WGA), Helix pomatia (HPA), Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-L), Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), Sambucus nigra (SNA-I), Canavalia ensiformis (Con A), Galanthus nivalis (GNA) and Dolichos biflorus (DBA). Results: Binding patterns of all lectins except SNA-I, Con A and DBA changed during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Conclusion: The results indicate that lectins specific for mannose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, sialic acid, beta-1,6-branched oligosaccharides and alpha-1-fucose may be associated with malignant progression.