Lectin binding to normal mucosa, leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

A panel of fifteen biotinylated lectins was used to study the saccharides associated with the epithelial component of normal and leukoplakic mucosa and squamous cell carcinoma, from a variety of locations in the oral cavity. Lectin binding heterogeneity was found between various sites of normal mucosa. The binding to leukoplakic epithelium closely resembled normal, with similar site heterogeneity. However, the features of cell-capping and cellular expression of the blood group A antigen, as observed in normal and most leukoplakic epithelia, were not observed in squamous cell carcinoma. These results show that neoplasia in oral squamous epithelium is associated with alterations in terminal N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose, L-fucose, D-glucosamine and D-galactosamine residues present in the outer parts of both O-linked and N-linked glycoconjugates, along with high levels of terminal sialation of certain residues.