Fixed-tissue binding of fluorescein-conjugated concanavalin A to malignant melanomas versus nevi

Concanavalin A (con A) is a plant-derived lectin that has the capability of agglutinating malignant cells in vitro. We studied the binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated con A to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded malignant melanomas and nevocellular nevi. Both malignant melanoma cells and nevus cells emitted partial or circumferential, cytoplasmic rim, apple green fluorescence. There was no demonstrable difference between fluorescence distribution or intensity between the two groups. Control, unstained tissue specimens yielded a brilliant nuclear and nucleolar yellow-green autofluorescence, which is peculiar to melanoma cells and rare to absent in nevus cells. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated con A provided no clear differentiation between malignant melanomas and nevocellular nevi in fixed tissue. However, characteristic melanoma cell autofluorescence may prove to be of benefit for differentiating malignant melanocytic from benign nevocytic lesions.