ARE DIFFERENCES IN THE EXPRESSION OF CARBOHYDRATE-BINDING SITES (ENDOGENOUS LECTINS) RESPONSIBLE FOR RECURRENCES OF BENIGN-TUMORS OF THE PAROTID-GLAND

The expression of endogenous lectins in pleomorphic adenomas and papil lary cystadenoma lymphomatosum (Warthin tumour) as well as in the tiss ue of the normal parotid gland was investigated with the aim to determ ine the capacity of the different cells to specifically bind carbohydr ate ligand structures. The loss of sugar-binding sites of pleomorphic adenomas - lactose (diazonium derivative; diaz.), beta-N-acetylgalacto samine (diaz.), sialic acid [(2,3-epoxypropane)-4-oxybutyric acid link ed; epichl.], heparin, mannose-6-phosphate (diaz.), maltose (diaz.), x ylose (diaz.), melibiose (diaz.), N-acetylgalactosamine (epichl.) - wa s detected in the investigated tumours, leading to the hypothesis that altered carbohydrate-protein interactions have been involved in the a dhesion of lost pleomorphic adenoma cells after damaging the tumour ca psule. The papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum in its cytoplasmic area s expressed significantly fewer sugar-binding sites for alpha-N-acetyl galactosamine (diaz.) and melibiose (diaz.).