LECTIN HISTOCHEMISTRY, PLOIDY LEVEL, AND PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY IN RHABDOMYOSARCOMA SUBTYPES

The glycohistochemical expression of binding sites for eight lectins i s characterized in a series of 8 embryonal, 4 alveolar and 4 pleomorph ic rhabdomyosarcomas. The correlation between lectin staining and eith er the proliferation index or the ploidy level was also investigated. The data show that rhabdomyosarcomas exhibit heterogeneous lectin bind ing expressions. A comparable level of lectin labeling is observed in euploid and aneuploid tumours. In contrast to other neoplasms, lectin staining has proved to be of doubtful value in distinguishing between different RMS subtypes. The data also reveal that a significantly lowe r level of proliferative activity was observed in the pleomorphic grou p as compared to the alveolar one.