Galectin-3 is a presurgical marker of human thyroid carcinoma.
Galectin-3 is a carbohydrate-binding protein endowed with an affinity for beta-galactosides. It has been shown to play an important role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and in pre-mRNA splicing. Furthermore, it is involved in the control of cell growth, neoplastic transformation, and metastasis. Interestingly, high levels of galectin-3 expression have been recently described in malignant thyroid neoplasias, but not in adenomas or in normal thyroid tissue. We investigated galectin-3 expression in human presurgical specimens obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. We analyzed galectin-3 expression by immunoperoxidase staining in both paraffin-embedded cytological thyroid sediments (cell blocks) obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy and their histological counterparts. A total of 64 samples were examined: 17 follicular carcinomas; 18 papillary carcinomas; and 29 follicular adenomas. All cell blocks and histological samples of papillary carcinomas expressed high levels of galectin-3 at either the cytoplasmic or nuclear level. Among follicular carcinomas, all histological samples expressed galectin-3, whereas 14 of 17 corresponding cell blocks were positive in the cytoplasm. No evidence of cytoplasmic galectin-3 expression was observed in 26 of 29 follicular adenomas. Hence, cytoplasmic galectin-3 staining seems to be a reliable, easy, and cheap marker for presurgical diagnosis of follicular carcinomas and an even more suitable one for papillary carcinomas.
Orlandi
F
F
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. orlandi@pasteur.sluigi.unito.it
Saggiorato
E
E
Pivano
G
G
Puligheddu
B
B
Termine
A
A
Cappia
S
S
De Giuli
P
P
Angeli
A
A
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3