The expression of glycoconjugates in 35 primary breast carcinomas with lymph node metastases and 20breast carcinomas without metastases was studied by the use of lectin histochemistry. Paraffin sections of primary tumors as well as axillary lymph node metastases were stained with a panel of six biotinylated lectin with defined sugar specificities. There was a considarable variation in staining patterns among primary tumors. In addition, the lectin reactivity was heterogeneous in their respective tumors. The positivity of Helix Pomatia(HPA) in primary breast carcinomas with metastases was 77% and that in carcinomas without metastases was 25%. However, the positivities of 5 other lectins(UEA-1, GS-1, PNA, SBA, DBA ) showed no difference between with or without metastases, or primary and metastatic foci. There was a strong association between HPA binding and the presence of lymph node metastases. The positivity of HPA in metastatic lymph nodes was 48%. This finding indicates that there is intratumoral heterogeneity in the primary carcinomas, and the pesence of HPA binding in primary tumors correlated with lymph node involvement. Whereas, selected malignant cells without HPA-binding seems to give rise to metastases.
