Lectin-binding pattern of primary malignant melanomas and melanocytic nevi

A panel of six biotinylated lectins was applied in order to study the compo sition and distribution of plasma membrane carbohydrate residues in 83 prim ary cutaneous melanomas (MMs) and in 85 melanocytic nevi (MN) with the avid in-biotin peroxidase technique. No clear-cut differences between MN and MMs were observed with regard to the staining with lectins. In MN and MMs deri ved from different patients: the lectin-binding pattern was variable and he terogeneous even within the individual nevi or melanomas. It seems reasonab le, therefore, to assume that the lectin-binding pattern cannot be regarded as a reliable histochemical marker for the differentiation of MN from MMs. Moreover, because the pattern reveals no statistically significant correla tion with the thickness or the depth of invasion of MM, it seems to lack pr ognostic significance.