LacCur stain for detection of mucin in adenocarcinoma

Identification of cytoplasmic mucin, usually by Mayer's mucicarmine stain, is one of the criteria to diagnose adenocarcinoma. The inexpensive LacCur stain, made up of Curcuma longa (khamin-shan) and secreta of Laccifer lacca (krang) has been introduced. The aim of this study was to compare the Mayer's mucicarmine and LacCur stains in the detection of mucin material. The specimens included 17 adenocarcinomas of the stomach, 16 of the colon, 18 of the lung, 16 of the breast, and 12 of the bile duct. Squamous cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (altogether 20 cases) were set as negative control. Like Mayer's mucicarmine, LacCur was capable of detecting of intracytoplasmic mucin in all adenocarcinomas of the stomach, colon and bile duct, and revealed mucin substance in 15/18 and 11/16 cases of specimens from the lung and breast, respectively. The negative control group showed a negative result. Although a little more time required in preparation, the LacCur stain is simple and very economical.