Premium
A study of cell membrane structure
Author(s) -
Feinmesser R.,
Freeman J. L.,
Noyek A.,
Brama I.,
Van Nostrand P.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930430310
Subject(s) - cell , malignant transformation , carbohydrate , cell membrane , pathology , medicine , membrane , cancer research , biology , biochemistry
Neoplastic transformation has been associated with a variety of structural changes, among which are changes in membrane carbohydrates. Not much is known, though, e.g., how early in the tumourogenic event these changes take place and what effect these changes have on cell growth, invasion, and ability to metastasize. We were able to identify the B‐D‐Gal(1–3)DGal‐NAc as a membrane carbohydrate component present in malignant laryngeal tissue, but not on adjacent normal mucous membrane. This carbohydrate structure was found to be present in metastatic as well as in nonmetastatic tumours. It was also found in well‐differentiated as well as poorly differentiated carcinomas. We suggest that changes in carbohydrate components on the cell membrane of the laryngeal cancer cell are an early event in tumour progression and probably are not related to the degree of invasion or the ability to metastasize.