Lectin Histochemical Detection of N-Acetyl Glucosamine and L-Fucose Containing glycoconjugates in Lung Carcinoma

Background: Lung cancer has the highest frequency among cancers worldwide. It is the leading cause of cancer-induced death in industrialized countries. Abnormal glycosylation of cell surface and extracellular matrix glycoconjugates are among the most critical issues in neoplasia. Objectives: This present study aimed to detect N – acetyl glucosamine (GlcNac) and L- fucose (L-fuc) containing glycoconjugates in lung cancer. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we selected paraffin blocks belonging to 25 patients with lung cancer from their pathology files at the Ali-Ebne Abitaleb Hospital, Zahedan, Iran. Six µm sections were obtained from the blocks and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) and lectin histochemistry (UEA and SBA lectins). Alcian Blue pH 2.5 was used as a counterstain; lectins were diluted up to 10µg/ml, and DAB was used as a chromogen. Histochemical grading was conducted blindly according to staining intensity to lectins (0-3). The data was collected and analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test, using SPSS. Results: Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between inflammatory mucosa of the bronchial tree and all types of lung cancer (i.e., adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as small and large cell lung carcinoma) according to staining intensity to SBA and UEA lectins (P 0.001). Our results showed that there were many different patterns of reaction to SBA and UEA lectins between all types of lung cancer cells and epithelial cells of the bronchial tree. Conclusions: Staining intensity and pattern of reaction to lectins were different between all types of lung cancer cells and epithelial mucosa.