Soybean agglutinin (SBA)-binding carbohydrate expression was studied immunohistochemically in 353 primary gastric carcinomas. The overall rate of positive SBA staining was 23% (81/353), and positive SBA staining was significantly correlated with tumor size, macroscopic tumor type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and venous invasion (P < 0.05).="" moreover,="" patients="" with="" tumors="" that="" were="" immunoreactive="" for="" sba="" demonstrated="" significantly="" higher="" survival="">P < 0.01).="" from="" these="" findings="" we="" conclude="" that="" careful="" follow-up="" and="" intense="" postoperative="" therapy="" are="" required="" for="" patients="" with="" gastric="" cancers="" that="" lack="" immunoreactivity="" for="">