Abstract
Many tumour-specific antigens in gastrointestinal cancers have carbohydrate immuno-determinants. These epitopes can be identified by lectins and monoclonal antibodies. By using fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated peanut agglutinin (PNA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) we have investigated glycoproteins carrying altered carbohydrate epitopes in normal and carcinomatous human colorectal mucosa. In normal mucosa PNA stained goblet cell glycoconjugates in the supranuclear (Golgi) distribution. After neuraminidase pretreatment PNA stained actual mucin goblet itself at all levels of the crypts. Colorectal carcinomas displayed a strong and direct binding of PNA to apical cell membranes of carcinomatous cells and intraluminal secretions. Analysis of the glycoproteins by SDS-PAGE and PNA-labelling revealed four carcinoma-associated glycoproteins (26kD, 32kD, 35kD and 50kD). In addition, four glycoproteins (29kD, 30kD, 33kD and 36kD) common to normal and carcinomatous colorectal mucosa could be identified. All of these glycoproteins differed in their molecular weight from those in red cell controls which bind PNA only after desialylation. The study shows that the expression of PNA-binding sites in colorectal carcinomas signifies a cancer-associated carbohydrate alteration. Four carcinoma-associated glycoprotein antigens could be detected by this lectin. The antigens we have identified might be useful in the isolation and purification of more selective reagents for the serologic detection of colorectal cancer.