Galectin-3 expression in human breast carcinoma: correlation with cancer histologic grade.
Galectins (S-type lectins) are a family of low-molecular weight, calcium-independent, mannose-binding lectins with functions in cell growth, cell activation, cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion including binding to carcinoembryonic antigens and laminin and metalloproteinase. Anti-galectin antisera can inhibit metastases of rat prostate cancers and human melanomas. To define the role of galectins in human breast cancer, the expression of galectin-3 were determined in 27 invasive breast cancers by immunohistochemical methods. The histologic grades of excised breast cancers were determined and immunohistochemical staining for galectin-3 (1: 1000 dilution of anti-galectin rat polyclonal antibody) was defined by scoring the intensity and distribution of staining (0-3+). The mean age of breast cancer patients was 63 years for 20 grade II breast cancers and 56 years for 7 grade III breast cancers. The mean immunohistochemical staining score for grade II breast cancers was 3. 7 (20% less than 2, 80% 3-6) and 2.5 for grade III (71.4% less than 2 and 28.6% 3-6). The galectin-3 expression pattern suggests that increasing histologic grade of breast cancer leads to reduced expression of galectin-3 and possibly reduced matrix binding and increased cancer cell motility.
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Department of Pathology, University of Alberta, 5B4.11 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Center, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D037502:Galectin 3; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D037502:Galectin 3