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.
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. orlandi@pasteur.sluigi.unito.it
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Orlandi
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Saggiorato
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Pivano
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Puligheddu
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Termine
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Cappia
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De Giuli
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Angeli
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