Three lectins (PNA, PHA, dBA) were used to study gastric carcinoma (66 cases), lymph node metastatic tumors (32), normal gastric mucosa (10), dysplasia (30), and intestinal metaplasia with gastritis (43). The intestinal metaplasia with quite abundant PHA and DBA receptors was closely related to gastric carcinoma. The positive rate of PHA receptors increased progressively in order of mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and gastric carcinoma. The distribution of PHA and PNA receptors was correlated with the histologic type and the degree of differentiation. 81.3% lymph node metastatic tumors produced cellular glycoconjugates, which differed in lectin binding profiles from those made by the cells in the respectively primary carcinoma. More PHA receptors were produced by the lymph node metastatic tumors than primary carcinoma.