Brooks, Susan Ann; (1990) Identification of a prognostic marker in breast cancer by a lectin from helix pomatia (the roman snail). Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

IDENTIFICATION OF A PROGNOSTIC MARKER IN BREAST CANCER BY A LECTIN FROM HELIX POMATIA (THE ROMAN SNAIL). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential value of Helix pomatia lectin binding to tissue sections as an indicator of patient prognosis in breast cancer. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of a retrospective series of 373 primary breast cancers diagnosed at the Middlesex Hospital between January 1967 and June 1972 were stained by a simple immunoperoxidase technique for the binding of a lectin from the Roman snail. Helix pomatia. Log-rank life table analyses revealed a highly significant correlation between Helix pomatia lectin binding to primary breast cancers and the clinical course of the disease (in terms of disease free survival and total survival time) over a 15-20 year follow-up period (p<0.00001). Helix pomatia lectin binding was compared with other, established, prognostic markers for which we had data, including lymph node status, histological tumour grade, tumour size, patient age at diagnosis, and S-phase fraction (calculated by the technique of flow cytometry). Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the relationships of these variables. The distribution of Helix pomatia lectin binding substances in crude homogenates of primary breast cancer, breast cancer metastases to lymph node, liver, lung and bone, and a range of other, normal, human tissues was investigated by the technique of S.D.S.-P.A.G.E., in conjunction with Western-style lectin electroblotting. Attempts were made to isolate lectin-binding material from these sources by anion exchange chromatography and lectin affinity chromatography.The purity of isolated substances was analysed by a combination of S.D.S.-P.A.G.E. / Western blotting, and high performance liquid chromatography (H.P.L.C.).

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