Abstract:

30 cases of esophageal cancerous tissues and 4 cases of esophageal epithelium from autopsy of other diseases were marked immunohistochemically with lectin PNA,PSA and DBA. The results showed that negative staining reaction of PNA and PSA appeared in the 4 cases of autopsy esophageal epithelium and positive DBA staining reaction appeared in these cases.Where as in malignant changes,the PNA and PSA reaction turn to positive and DBA staines declined or even disappeared. It is explained that the changes of cellular glycoconjugate can occur in malignant state.In addition, positive saining reaction of PNA and PSA appeared in the 7 cases of normal esophageal epithelium which near the cancer.It is conjectured that the changes of glycoconjugate of esophageal epithelium cells are occured before the apperance morthlogyical changes.The relationshipbetween the location of lectin receptors and the degree of differentiation or infilitrativing growth of tumors was discussed.

Key words: lectin, esophageal epithelium, esophageal cancer