CELL TYPE-DEPENDENT ALTERATIONS OF BINDING OF SYNTHETIC BLOOD-GROUP ANTIGEN-RELATED OLIGOSACCHARIDES IN LUNG-CANCER

Blood group antigen-related oligosaccharides have been implicated in g rowth regulation, cell mobility control and adhesion; we are therefore interested in the localization of receptors for these oligosaccharide s in tumour cells. Labelled neoglycoconjugates that carry synthetic su gar structures are suitable tools to determine: whether such binding s ites are present in human lung cancer; whether structural alterations of the glycoligand part will affect extent of binding; and whether cel l type-associated alterations can be detected. Sections from 121 cases of lung cancer, representing small cell and non-small cell lung carci noma, mesothelioma and metastases from extrapulmonary primary carcinom as were used to study the binding of nine synthetic AH- and Le-related oligosaccharides. Probes with fucose-alpha 1-3/4-N-acetylglucosamine- beta 1-R, an A-like disaccharide and 3'-sulfated galactose as ligand a ppear to bind less well to small cell than to non-small cell lung canc er cases, whereas Le(c)-disaccharide distinguishes mesothelioma from m etastatic carcinoma. The latter ligand, A-like disaccharide and H (typ e III)-like trisaccharide exhibit evident cell type-associated differe nces in extent of binding. Thus, tailor-made neoglycoconjugates consti tute a promising class of histopathological tools that warrants furthe r study.