Histochemistry of mucosubstances in the diffuse and intestinal types of gastric cancer.

Histochemical properties of the mucus were studied in 48 diffuse types and 46 intestinal types of gastric carcinoma. Diffuse type was characterized by the prevalence of intracellular secretion of mucopolysaccharides with a significant involvement of sulfated ones. In the intestinal type, extracellular secretion predominated with the occurrence of pure acid mucopolysaccharides and a smaller portion of sulfated ones. The secretion of pure neutral mucopolysaccharides was minimal in both types of gastric cancer. In the intestinal type carcinomas, incomplete intestinal type IIb metaplasia was frequently found in marginal areas of the tumor.