Binding of mistletoe lectins to cutaneous malignant melanoma: implications for prognosis and therapy.

BACKGROUND

Glycoconjugates, as detected by lectin histochemistry, have been implicated in metastasis formation in many neoplasias. However, no data concerning the three mistletoe lectins (MLs) and the spread of malignant melanoma have been published.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The binding status of ML-I, -II and -III was histochemically assessed in 100 malignant melanomas and correlated with metastasis in a 10 year follow-up period. Furthermore, the staining intensity of the three MLs, scored from negative (-) to very intense (+ + +), was evaluated.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier analsis revealed that very intense binding (+ + +) of ML-I was positively-correlated with metastasis (p=0.044).

CONCLUSION

Since ML-I is specific for galactose, high density galactose expression in malignant melanoma is a predictor of poor prognosis.