Further analysis of predictive value of Helix pomatia lectin binding to primary breast cancer for axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases.

We investigated the relation between Helix pomatia (HPA) staining of primary breast cancer and the presence of axillary (AX) or internal mammary (IM) metastases, and evaluated its predictive value for AX or IM metastases in comparison with the use of clinical variables. There was a significant association between the HPA staining and AX or IM metastases. When HPA staining was regarded as an indicator of AX metastases, a diagnostic accuracy of 72%, a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 75% were achieved. As an indicator of IM metastases, these values were 64%, 76% and 62%, respectively. In predicting the presence of AX metastases using a discriminant function with clinical AX status, location of tumour and tumour size, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 79%, 69% and 87%, respectively. In predicting the presence of IM metastases using the discriminant function with clinical AX status and tumour size, these values were 74%, 71% and 75%, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that the HPA staining may be useful, but it was equivalent with the discriminant function with clinical variables in prediction of AX or IM metastases.