Identification of Carbohydrate Types Among Women With Breast Cancer In Khartoum State

Abstract

This is a descriptive study carried out in different hospitals in Khartoum state during the period from April 2005 to October 2005. The study aimed to detect, histochemically the presence and intensity of different types of carbohydrates in breast cancer. Sixty biopsies were obtained from mastectomy specimens or surgically removed breast lesions. Of these 50 specimens represented different types of breast cancers and the remaining 10 were from fibroadenoma tissues taken as controls. After tissue processing 4 different histochemical techniques were performed to identify carbohydrate type; Periodic Acid Schiff's (PAS)/ Diastase technique and Alcian Blue technique at 3 different PH (PH 2.5, PH 1 and PH 3.2). Our findings indicated that both malignant and benign neoplastic tissues secrete mucopolysaccharides with increased ratio of the sulphated mucin. On the other hand the overall proteoglycans content of the malignant tissue was greater than that of the corresponding benign ones. We concluded that growing tumors are characterized by an elevated content of mucopolysaccahrides compared to their tissue of origin. Therefore, we recommend taking mucopolysaccharides more into consideration for the histological findings of tumors, and as a tool to differentiate between carcinoma of the breast and other benign neoplasms.