[Study of the reactivity of giant cell tumors of bones to different lectins]

The authors have examined 18 cases of giant cell bone tumours using various lectins. Type I stromal cells resembling fibroblasts and participating in the construction of matrix were Con A positive. The intensity of Con A binding and the number of positive cells increased with increasing stage. The nature and intensity of PNA-lectin binding in giant cells, after digestion with neuraminidase, varied according to the stage. While in Group I giant cells, 30 % of cells were negative and, in the great majority of cells, the reaction was limited to a clearly defined segment of the membrane, in Group III tumours, the proportion of negative cells was approximately 1 % and a diffuse and very intense intracytoplasmic reaction was observed in 60 % of the positive cells. According to the authors, the histochemical study of lectins could help classify giant cell tumours.