[Alterations of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 receptor in human colorectal benign and malignant tumors].

The distributions and alterations of UEA-1 receptor in 116 human colorectal mucosa, included 20 normal mucosa, 16 inflammatory and 14 hyperplastic polyps, 34 adenomas, and 32 carcinomas, were studied with ABC technique. The results follow as: 1. There were positive staining of UEA-1 in proximal colon and negative in distal colon and rectum; 2. The frequency and intensity of UEA-1 receptor stained were increasing with the sequence of normal mucosa (7.7%), inflammatory polyps (25%), hyperplastic polyps (57.1%), adenomas (76.4%), and carcinomas (100%) in distal colon and rectum; 3. The staining pattern of UEA-1 in severe atypia adenomas was very similar to that in carcinomas and both of them were significantly difference from that in the other groups (P less than 0.05 or less than 0.01). The results suggested that UEA-1 receptor in distal colon and rectum may be considered as a probe studying course of malignant transformation and benefit to the diagnosis of carcinoma.