DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF JACKFRUIT-LECTIN-SPECIFIC GLYCOCONJUGATES IN METASTATIC ADENOCARCINOMA AND REACTIVE MESOTHELIAL CELLS - A DIAGNOSTIC-AID IN EFFUSION CYTOLOGY

Distinguishing reactive mesothelial cells from adenocarcinoma cells in serous effusions on the basis of morphological criteria alone is ofte n difficult. Interest has therefore been focused on identifying reliab le methods to supplement the conventional cytological techniques. Plan t lectins have been reported as diagnostic markers for malignant cells . We studied 51 aspirated samples of benign and malignant effusions us ing horseradish-peroxidase-conjugated jackfruit lectin. No significant difference was observed between the cells of pleural and peritoneal f luids. The reactively proliferated mesothelial cells of benign effusio ns showed a predominence of mild staining while moderate and intense s taining was predominant in malignant effusions. Intense and irregular lectin binding was observed in macrophages irrespective of the cause o f effusion. The lectin staining method therefore appears to have some clinical significance as an additional diagnostic aid for use in effus ion cytology.