Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dolichos biflorus agglutinin binding to intracranial germ-cell tumors: detection of embryonal components in germinomas

  • Regular Papers
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) binding was examined in 32 cases of intracranial human germcell tumors. In embryonal carcinomas, intense DBA binding sites were found on the free surface and cytoplasm of embryonal cells. In teratomas, glandular structures often had positive DBA binding sites. Yolk sac carcinomas and choriocarcinomas showed negative DBA affinity. Of 19 cases of germinomas, 10 showed no DBA-positive cells, while sporadically and/or collectively distributed-DBA positive cells were found in the other 9 cases. Common brain tumors such as gliomas, neurinomas and meningiomas were negative for DBA staining. Considering the cellular carbohydrate structure, these findings suggest that DBA-positive cells in germinoma might be evidence of differentiation into embryonal or some somatic components. In addition, because of the absence of DBA binding sites in the common brain tumors, the identification of such binding sites in brain tumors might act as a marker for embryonal or somatic components, especially among germ-cell tumors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bantley AJ, Parkinson MC, Harding BN, Bains RM, Lantos PL (1990) A comparative morphological and immunohistochemical study of testicular seminomas and intracranial germinomas. Histopathology 17:443–449

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bjornsson J, Scheithauer BW, Okazaki H, Leech RW (1985) Intracranial germ cell tumors: pathobiological and immunohistochemical aspects of 70 cases. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 44:32–46

    Google Scholar 

  3. Damjanov I (1987) Biology of disease. Lectin cytochemistry and histochemistry. Lab Invest 57:5–20

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dajanov I, Fox N, Knowles BB, Solter D, Lange PH, Fraley EE (1982) Immunohistochemical localization of murine stagespecific embryonic antigens in human testicular germ cell tumors. Am J Pathol 108:225–230

    Google Scholar 

  5. Donat JF, Okazaki H, Gomez MR, Reagan TJ, Baker HL Jr, Laws ER Jr (1978) Pineal tumors. A 53-year experience. Arch Neurol 35:736–740

    Google Scholar 

  6. Feizi T (1981) Carbohydrate differentiation antigens. Trends Biochem Sci 6:333–335

    Google Scholar 

  7. Feizi T, Childs RA (1985) Carbohydrate structures of glycoproteins and glycolipids as differentiation antigens, tumour-associated antigens and components of receptor systems. Trends Biochem Sci 10:24–29

    Google Scholar 

  8. Friedman NB (1947) Germinoma of the pineal. Its identity with germinoma (“seminoma”) of the testis. Cancer Res 7:363–368

    Google Scholar 

  9. Giuffre R, Di Lorenzo N (1975) Evolution of a primary intrasellar germinomatous teratoma into a choriocarcinoma. Case report. J Neurosurg 42:602–604

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kaneko Y, Iwaki T, Matsushima T, Fukui M (1991) Comprehensive lectin histochemistry of normal and neoplastic human choroid plexus cells: alternation of lectin-binding patterns through neoplastic transformation. Acta Neuropathol 82:127–133

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kosmehl H, Langbein L, Katenkamp D (1989) Lectin histochemistry of human testicular germ cell tumors. Neoplasma 36:29–39

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lee MC, Talerman A, Oosterhuis JW, Damjanov I (1985) Lectin histochemistry of classic and spermatocytic seminomas. Arch Pathol Lab Med 109:938–942

    Google Scholar 

  13. Malmi R, Kellokumpu-Lehtinen P-L, Soederstoem K-O (1989) Correlation between lectin binding and clinical factors in seminoma patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 115:96–100

    Google Scholar 

  14. Motzer RJ, Reuter VE, Cordon-Cardo C, Bosl GJ (1988) Blood group-related antigens in human germ cell tumors. Cancer Res 48:5342–5347

    Google Scholar 

  15. Okazaki H (1989) Fundamentals of neuropathology. Morphologic basis of neurologic disorders, 2nd edn. Igaku-Shoin, Tokyo, pp 252–255

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ookusa Y, Takata K, Nagashima M, Hirano H (1985) Lectin-binding pattern in extramammary Paget's disease by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) — labeling method — Specific staining withDolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA). Arch Dermatol Res 277:65–70

    Google Scholar 

  17. Russell DS, Rubinstein LJ (1989) Pathology of tumours of the Neurvous System, 5th edn. Edward Arnold, London, pp 664–687

    Google Scholar 

  18. Schwechheimer K, Schnabel P, Moeller P (1983) Immunohistochemical localization of peanut lectin binding sites on human brain tumors as determined by peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique in paraffin sections. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 61:21–26

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sharon N (1983) Lectin receptors as lymphocyte surface markers. Adv Immunol 34:213–298

    Google Scholar 

  20. Shinoda J, Miwa Y, Sakai N, Yamada H, Shima H, Kato K, Takahashi M, Shimokawa K (1985) Immunohistochemical study of placental alkaline phosphatase in primary intracranial germ-cell tumors. J Neurosurg 63:733–739

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shokry A, Janzer RC, von Hochstetter AR, Yasargil MG, Hedinger C (1985) Primary intracranial germ-cell tumors. A clinicopathological study of 14 cases. J Neurosurg 62:826–830

    Google Scholar 

  22. Teilum G (1965) Classification of endodermal sinus tumour (mesoblastoma vitellinum) and so-called “Embryonal carcinoma” of the ovary. Arch Pathol Microbiol Scand 64:407–429

    Google Scholar 

  23. Teshima S, Hirohashi S, Shimosato Y, Kishi K, Ino Y, Matsumoto K, Yamada T (1984) Histochemically demonstrable changes in cell surface carbohydrates of human germ cell tumors. Lab Invest 50:271–277

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ueki K, Tanaka R (1980) Treatments and prognoses of pineal tumors. Experience of 110 cases. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 20:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  25. Verlooy J, Cras P, Selosse P, Martin JJ (1987) Histological patterns in germ cell tumors. In: Chatel M, Darcel E, Pecker J (eds) Brain oncology, biology, diagnosis and therapy. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, pp 83–85

    Google Scholar 

  26. Walter GF (1987) Dysontogenetic brain tumors. Morphological variability and problems of classification. In: Chatel M, Darcel F, Pecker J (eds) Brain oncology, biology, diagnosis and therapy. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, pp 87–90

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang XC, Kochi N, Tani E, Kaba K, Matsumoto T, Shindo H (1989) Lectin histochemistry of human gliomas. Acta Neuropathol 79:176–182

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weber T, Seith RJ, Liebert UG, Gallasch E, Wechsler W (1985) Affinity cytochemistry of vascular endothelia in brain tumors by biotinylatedUlex europaeus type 1 lectin (UEA-1). Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 67:128–135

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zimmerman HM (1971) Introduction to tumors of the central nervous system. In: Minckler J (ed) Pathology of the nervous system, vol 2. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 1947–1951

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zülch KJ (1957) The present state of the classification of intracranial tumors and its value for the neurosurgeons. Zentralbl Neurochir 17:295–301

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasa-machi, 500, Gifu City, Japan

    S. Niikawa, A. Hara, T. Ando, N. Sakai & H. Yamada

  2. Department of Pathology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasa-machi, 500, Gifu City, Japan

    K. Shimokawa

Authors
  1. S. Niikawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Hara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Ando
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Sakai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Yamada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K. Shimokawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Niikawa, S., Hara, A., Ando, T. et al. Dolichos biflorus agglutinin binding to intracranial germ-cell tumors: detection of embryonal components in germinomas. Acta Neuropathol 83, 347–351 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713524

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713524

Key words

Search

Navigation