Wheat germ and peanut agglutinin binding to normal, dysplastic and neoplastic cervical epithelium

Binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) was studied cytochemically in 43 cervical specimens covering a range of lesions from moderate atypia to invasive carcinoma. Normal squamous epithelium showed weak binding of WGA and negative reaction with PNA. Atypical squamous epithelium was characterized by moderate binding of WGA and PNA, while malignant lesions demonstrated strong affinity to both lectins. In adenocarcinoma in situ, WGA and PNA binding was reduced by comparison with normal glandular epithelium, that was strongly positive.