Lectin histochemistry of mixed gliomas demonstrating an intermediate cell type

Abstract

18 cases oí' low-graded rnixed gliornas were studied using the two lectins Concanavalin A (Con A) and Peanut lectin (PNA). Con A stained cytoplasm and processes of turnoral astrocytes, whereas PNA stained cell membranes of tumoral oligodendrocytes. Con A and PNA are reliable markers for astrocyte and oligodendrocyte areas of mixed gliornas, respectively. A part of cells were overlappingly positive for both lectins. They expressed an oligosaccharide pattern of both gliorna types and represented a third, interrnediate cell type of rnixed gliomas. The existence of interrnediate cells close to astrocytic and oligodendroglial cell types in mixed gliomas could result frorn transformation processes of neoplastic glial cells or frorn the malignant transformation of a common glial precursor cell.