Lectin binding to carcinoma-in situ cells of the testis. A comparative study of CIS germ cells and seminoma cells.

Seven patients with carcinoma-in-situ of the testis were studied. Testicular biopsies were treated with eight fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated lectins, and particular attention was paid to the similarities between CIS germ cells, normal germ cells and seminoma cells. In the cytoplasm of CIS cells a large number of granularly distributed Con A and LCA binding sites was noticed, indicating the presence of mannose and N-acetyl-glucosamine in these cells. The perinuclear fluorescence observed by WGA and RCA I suggests the incorporation of N-acetyl-glucosamine and galactose into glycoproteins in cytoplasmic cell organelles of these cells. The distribution of glycoconjugates in CIS germ cells is similar to that of invasive seminoma cells confirming the malignant nature of CIS cells. However, as there are differences in lectin binding of spermatogenetic cells and CIS cells, no conclusions regarding the origin of CIS cells can be drawn.