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Histochemistry of Single Molecules pp 121–132Cite as

Lectin Histochemistry for Metastasizing and Non-metastasizing Cancer Cells

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1560))

Abstract

Changes in glycosylation of the cancer cell glycocalyx are a hallmark of metastasizing cancers and critically contribute to distant metastasis. In this chapter we concentrate on two lectins capable of specifically binding tumor-associated glycans in cryostat or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections derived from primary clinical material, genetically engineered mouse models with endogenous cancer formation or xenograft mouse models. The snail lectin of Helix pomatia (HPA) binds N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) that is expressed among others as Tn antigen (O-linked GalNAc) in primary tumors and metastases in several human adenocarcinomas. Another lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) binds to complex β1-6 branched N-linked oligosaccharides associated with increased metastatic potential in breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Using these two lectins both O- and N-linked alterations in the glycocalyx of cancer cells can be monitored. As they are commercially available in a biotinylated or fluorescence-labeled form they can be readily used in cancer metastasis studies.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) grant WO 1967/1-1 to G.W.-E.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Glycobiology Group, Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Gerrit Wolters-Eisfeld

  2. Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Udo Schumacher

Authors
  1. Gerrit Wolters-Eisfeld
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  2. Udo Schumacher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerrit Wolters-Eisfeld .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Carlo Pellicciari

  2. Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Marco Biggiogera

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Wolters-Eisfeld, G., Schumacher, U. (2017). Lectin Histochemistry for Metastasizing and Non-metastasizing Cancer Cells. In: Pellicciari, C., Biggiogera, M. (eds) Histochemistry of Single Molecules. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1560. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6788-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6788-9_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6787-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6788-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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