[Histochemical localization of glyco-conjugate and CEA-glycoprotein in human lung neoplasms]

Sixty-six human lung neoplasms of different histological types and normal bronchial epithelial cells of newborn babies and adults were studied histochemically using ConA and PSA and the result was compared with that of CEA. Normal mucosal epithelium could bind to ConA, and the location of ConA receptors was related to the maturation of mucosal epithelial cells. Normal mucosal epithelium in adult bronchi failed to be stained with PSA and anti-CEA, and most of lung neoplasms could bind to PSA and positive for CEA, indicating that new glycoconjugate and CEA-glycoprotein could be synthesized after malignant transformation of mucosal epithelium. The binding of ConA, PSA and anti-CEA to cell membrane and nucleus membrane was characteristic of squamous cell lung cancer while lung adenocarcinoma mainly showed cytoplasmic staining. The weak staining of ConA, PSA and anti-CEA in small cell carcinoma and negative staining in carcinoid and malignant melanoma help testify that their origin may differ from that of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.