The value of blood group-specific lectin and endothelial associated antibodies in the diagnosis of vascular proliferations

Blood vascular and lymphatic tumors were evaluated immunohistochemically by studying a spectrum of endothelial associated antigens. UEA-1 lectin reacted with the tumor cells of one patient with malignant angioendothelioma in the non-metastatic stage. However, when metastasis occurred, the binding sites of this lectin completely disappeared from the surface of the tumor cells in both original and metastatic lesions, suggesting the loss of blood group H antigen from the tumor cells could be used as an indicator of metastasis in this tumor. Reaction with anti-HLA-A, B, C, intense in normal blood vessels, remained intensely positive in pyogenic granuloma and Kaposi's sarcoma, whereas it did not react with normal lymphatics and lymphangioma. This indicates that anti-HLA-A, B, C is useful in differentiating blood vascular structures from lymphatic structures in both normal and pathological conditions. OKM5 reacted intensely with benign hyperplasias in pyogenic granuloma, while barely reacting with proliferating parts in Kaposi's sarcoma, suggesting the difference in staining patterns can be used to distinguish vascular proliferation or malignancy. Reaction with anti-Type IV collagen and anti-laminin was intense in normal blood vessels, pyogenic granuloma and Kaposi's sarcoma, whereas reaction with these antibodies in normal lymphatics was patchy and irregular in its thickness.