[Research of lectin receptors in early gastric carcinoma]

Sixty cases of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) were studied to identify the receptors against lectins (ConA, DBA, PHA, PNA, and WGA) respectively by means of immunohistochemical ABC technique. The result obtained was coincidently compared with the figures of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Immunoelectronmicroscopy was carried out on four cases with freshly prepared gastric carcinoma specimens in order to observe the distribution of these 5 lectin receptors by using streptavidin-gold complex method. The results were as follows: the gold particles labelled for 5 lectin receptors were mainly located on the cytoplasmic membrane, organelle membrane and the mucin granules. The distribution and the intensity of positive reaction were known to be correlated with histologic typing, histogenesis and the degree of cell differentiation of EGC, PHA, PNA and WGA staining for the corresponding receptors were considered of some value in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma.