Differential expression of galectin 3 and galectin 1 in colorectal cancer progression.
OBJECTIVE
Galectins are beta-galactoside-binding proteins possibly involved in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of galectin 3 and galectin 1 expression and involvement in colorectal cancer progression.


METHODS
Galectin 3 expression was examined immunohistochemically in 39 samples of normal mucosae, 25 adenomas, 87 carcinomas, and 39 lymph node metastases. Galectin 1 was analyzed in 25 samples of mucosae, 15 adenomas, 25 carcinomas, and 11 metastases. Western blot analysis was also performed.


RESULTS
All normal mucosae showed strong nuclear galectin 3 expression, which was down-regulated in the neoplastic progression, because only 60% of adenomas, 48% of carcinomas, and 44% of metastases were strongly positive (P < 0.0001). Cytoplasmic expression was down-regulated in adenomas (16%) but increased again in carcinomas (64%) (P < 0.0001). Galectin 1 expression was mainly detected in stromal cells and correlated with tumor progression from normal mucosae to adenomas and carcinomas (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Galectin 3 expression is down-regulated in the initial stages of neoplastic progression, whereas a dissociated cytoplasmic expression increases in later phases of tumor progression. Galectin 1 in colorectal mucosa is predominantly a stromal product whose overexpression is associated with the neoplastic progression of colorectal cancer.
Sanjuán
X
X
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Fernández
P L
PL
Castells
A
A
Castronovo
V
V
van den Brule
F
F
Liu
F T
FT
Cardesa
A
A
Campo
E
E
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D012016:Reference Values
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D006388:Hemagglutinins