concanavalin-a and Carcinoma-in-Situ

Various immune parameters, i.e., peripheral T and B cell distribution, T cell subpopulation, interleukin 2 (IL-2) activity and in vitro lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A), were investigated in 24 pretreated patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and in 35 normal controls. Of the measured parameters, lymphocyte response to PHA was significantly lower in the CIN than control group (P less than 0.05). The values of all other measured parameters were similar in both groups.

Topics: B-Lymphocytes; Carcinoma in Situ; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Interleukin-2; Leukocyte Count; Phytohemagglutinins; T-Lymphocytes; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The effect of surgery on peripheral blood mononuclear cell responsiveness to mitogens and suppressor cell (SC) activity assessed in a concanavalin A (ConA) assay were studied in patients with stage 0 and stage III-IV cancer. Patients were exposed to a similar surgical trauma the same type of anaesthesia, and to no pre- and early postoperative radio- or chemotherapy. A more pronounced postoperative decrease in the lymphocyte count, responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and ConA, and in the SC activity was found in the nonadvanced than advanced cancer group. These findings point to an impaired mobilization and distribution capacity of circulating lymphocytes in patients with advanced neoplastic disease.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma in Situ; Cells, Cultured; Colonic Neoplasms; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphocytes; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Phytohemagglutinins; Stomach Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Uterine Neoplasms

Seven patients with carcinoma-in-situ of the testis were studied. Testicular biopsies were treated with eight fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated lectins, and particular attention was paid to the similarities between CIS germ cells, normal germ cells and seminoma cells. In the cytoplasm of CIS cells a large number of granularly distributed Con A and LCA binding sites was noticed, indicating the presence of mannose and N-acetyl-glucosamine in these cells. The perinuclear fluorescence observed by WGA and RCA I suggests the incorporation of N-acetyl-glucosamine and galactose into glycoproteins in cytoplasmic cell organelles of these cells. The distribution of glycoconjugates in CIS germ cells is similar to that of invasive seminoma cells confirming the malignant nature of CIS cells. However, as there are differences in lectin binding of spermatogenetic cells and CIS cells, no conclusions regarding the origin of CIS cells can be drawn.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Binding Sites; Carcinoma in Situ; Concanavalin A; Dysgerminoma; Humans; Lectins; Male; Testicular Neoplasms

For the detection of cancerous and precancerous lesions in cervical cytopathology, the feasibility of a concanavalin A-peroxidase labeling procedure was tested and compared with the Papanicolaou method. To this end, the percentage of labeled flattened epithelial cells with a morphologically normal appearance present in cervical cell suspensions was determined. It was found that the mean labeling percentage of the control group was 71% (SD, 11%). The means for mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia groups were, respectively, 54% (SD, 19%), 48% (SD, 13%), and 44% (SD, 16%). The mean for the carcinoma in situ group was 32% (SD,11%), and for the squamous cell carcinoma group 16% (SD, 5%). It appeared that the labeling percentage gradually decreases with increasing atypia of the epithelium as confirmed by histological observation. A complete dissimilarity was found between healthy individuals and cancer patients. In a follow-up study it was found that the mean labeling percentage did not alter in cases of an unchanged stage of disease. A reestablishment of the normal concanavalin A-peroxidase labeling percentage often appeared once the cancerous or precancerous lesion was treated. In conclusion, the concanavalin A-peroxidase labeling method can be considered as a supplementary technique to the Papanicolaou method for the early detection of cervical cancer. It reduces the effect of sampling and screening errors of the Papanicolaou method, and it allows a more objective cytological diagnosis. In addition, it may possess prognostic significance.

Topics: Carcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Adhesion; Concanavalin A; Female; Horseradish Peroxidase; Humans; Precancerous Conditions; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Cellular immunity of the delayed type in women with intraepithelial carcinoma (carcinoma is situ) of the vulva was investigated by an in vitro assay of mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformations. Test results from 9 patients were compared to those of 23 age-matched control subjects. Lymphocyte transformation responses in counts per minute were significantly lower for women with carcinoma in situ of the vulva than for control subjects for phytohemagglutinin-P (at 50 microgram/ml) 6238 and 28,102 (P less than 0.0001); for phytohemagglutinin-P (at 165 microgram/ml 7222 and 21,417 (P less than 0.001); for concanavallin A, 14,988 and 41,888 (P less than 0.0001); and pokeweed mitogen, 20,861 and 49,601 (P less than 0.001). No significant differences in lymphocyte transformations were noted between these two groups to the specific antigens, Candida or streptokinase-streptodornase. Four patients with carcinoma in situ of the vulva were also found to have intraepithelial carcinoma of the cervix and/or vegina. The occurrence and clinical course of carcinoma in situ of the vulva in some women may be related to an underlying defect in cellular immunity. Immunosuppression may also explain the frequent association noted between carcinoma of the vulva and the development of other malignant neoplasms.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bowen's Disease; Carcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocyte Activation; Phytohemagglutinins; Pokeweed Mitogens; Vulvar Neoplasms

Fibroblasts underlying human uterine cervical dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive carcinoma are agglutinable by concanavalin A (Con A) but not by wheat germ agglutinin, except at very high concentration. Studies with low levels of Con A show that maximal agglutination is obtained with fibroblasts from invasive carcinoma, while the fibroblasts underlying dysplasia give minimal agglutination reactions. Fibroblasts underlying carcinoma in situ give agglutination reactions halfway between those obtained with fibroblasts underlying dysplasia and invasive carcinoma. An epithelial-like cell line obtained from a case of dysplasia shows agglutinability by Con A very similar to that obtained with fibroblasts underlying dysplasia. These epithelial-like cells are also not agglutinable by wheat germ agglutinin. Treatment of the cervical cells, both epithelial and fibroblasts, with neuraminidase leads to slight increase in agglutination by both Con A and wheat germ agglutinin. Marked increase in agglutination is not obtained even after treatment with high concentration of neuraminidase (10 units/10(6) cells). Marked agglutinability, however, is observed after trypsin treatment. The results suggest that, while the fibroblasts obtained from normal cervix are not agglutinable by Con A, surface alterations necessary for Con A-specific agglutination exist in fibroblasts during the early stage of development of uterine cervical epithelial neoplasia (dysplasia) and increase with the progression through carcinoma in situ to invasive carcinoma. Loss of cell surface sialic acids may result in a slight increase in agglutinability, but some other mechanism(s) is likely to be involved in alteration of surface properties that lead to marked agglutinability of the human uterine cervical cells obtained from cancer precursor lesions.

Topics: Agglutination; Carcinoma; Carcinoma in Situ; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Concanavalin A; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Female; Fibroblasts; Humans; Lectins; Neuraminidase; Precancerous Conditions; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms