BACKGROUND: Glycoconjugates, as detected by lectin histochemistry, have been implicated in metastasis formation in many neoplasias. However, no data concerning the three mistletoe lectins (MLs) and the spread of malignant melanoma have been published. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The binding status of ML-I, -II and -III was histochemically assessed in 100 malignant melanomas and correlated with metastasis in a 10 year follow-up period. Furthermore, the staining intensity of the three MLs, scored from negative (-) to very intense (+ + +), was evaluated. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analsis revealed that very intense binding (+ + +) of ML-I was positively-correlated with metastasis (p=0.044). CONCLUSION: Since ML-I is specific for galactose, high density galactose expression in malignant melanoma is a predictor of poor prognosis.
