Mucoid carcinomas of the breast: a study using mucin histochemistry and peanut lectin

Abstract

The mucin secreted by mucoid carcinomas of the human breast was studied in a series of 20 tumors by histochemical methods and peroxidase labeled peanut lectin. Histochemical techniques showed that the carcinomas could be divided into 2 groups depending on whether the mucin was composed predominantly of acid or neutral mucopolysaccarides. The specific binding of peanut lectin to .beta.-galactosyl groups, in combination with neuraminidase treatment, enabled further divisions to be made and demonstrated the heterogenous nature of the mucin secreted by mucoid carcinomas and the value of using lectins as specific probes in histological methods.