Galectin-1 and galectin-3 expression in human prostate tissue and prostate cancer.
Galectin-1 and galectin-3, two beta-galactoside-binding proteins, have been suggested to play a role in the development and progression of cancer. We have studied the expression of these molecules in normal human prostate tissue and prostate adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of seven normal human prostates, eight cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), 20 primary adenocarcinomas of the prostate, and 12 prostate cancer metastases. Galectin-1 was expressed in most cases of all four histologic types. In contrast, galectin-3 expression was significantly decreased in primary carcinoma and metastatic disease compared with normal and premalignant tissue. Galectin-3 expression in primary tumors tended to be less than that of surrounding normal glands. We conclude that loss of galectin-3 expression may be associated with the progression of prostate cancer.
Ellerhorst
J
J
Department of Tumor Biology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Troncoso
P
P
Xu
X C
XC
Lee
J
J
Lotan
R
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D006388:Hemagglutinins