Lectin-binding sugar chain in bladder tumors

We studied the lectin binding patterns of 40 initial superficial and 10 subsequent invasive bladder tumors by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method using the following biotin-labeled lectins: PNA, DBA, UEA-I, BS-I, ConA and WGA. We observed the relationship between lectin binding and subsequent course of initial superficial tumors, grade and stage (T). DBA or WGA staining tumors and Con A negative tumors revealed no recurrence or superficial recurrence. Low grade tumors were DBA or BS-I positive and high grade tumors were ConA positive. Low staging tumors possessed DBA or WGA positiveness and high staging tumors had ConA positiveness. From these results we considered that negative staining of WGA or DBA, or positive staining of ConA was a change accompanying the malignant potentiality.