LECTIN HISTOCHEMISTRY, PLOIDY LEVEL AND PROLIFERATION INDEXES IN MENINGIOMA SUBTYPES

The glycohistochemical expression of binding sites for eight lectins i s characterized in a series of 15 meningothelial, 10 fibroblastic and 15 transitional meningiomas. The correlation between lectin staining a nd either the proliferation index or ploidy level has also been invest igated. The data show that the cytochemical binding of some lectins is of value in distinguishing between the different meningioma subgroups . For example, fibroblastic meningiomas express significantly higher a mounts of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin (U EA-I) than the meningothelial sub-type. Diploid tumours express a high er glycine maximus (SBA). Arachis hypogaea (PNA) and Phaseolus vulgari s leukoagglutinin (PHA-L) binding than aneuploid tumours. These differ ences are probably due to the modification of post-transcriptional gly cosylation events linked to tumour ageing. The data also reveal that t he increased binding of PHA-L is inversely correlated with the prolife ration indices of the tumours.