Expression of cytoplasmic galectin-3 as a prognostic marker in tongue carcinoma.
Galectin-3 is a member of the beta-galactoside-binding mammalian lectin family with affinity to ABH group epitopes, cell surface and extracellular polylactosamine glycans. It has been shown to be involved in differentiation, morphogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Here we questioned the possible involvement of galectin-3 in the neoplastic progression of the tongue epithelium and evaluated its prognostic value in tongue cancer patients. Galectin-3 expression was analyzed by the immunohistochemical method in 77 tongue specimens (54 squamous cell carcinomas and 23 specimens of distinct normal mucosa). Levels of nuclear expression of galectin-3 markedly decreased during the progression from normal to cancerous states (P < 0.0001), while cytoplasmic expression increased (P < 0.0001). Enhanced expression of galectin-3 in the cytoplasm was associated with a reduced disease-free survival of tongue cancer patients. Multivariate analysis identified enhanced expression of cytoplasmic galectin-3 as an independent predictor of disease recurrence (P = 0.0120). These results suggest that the observed translocation of galectin-3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm during neoplastic progression may serve as a prognostic factor for tongue cancer patients.
Honjo
Y
Y
Department of Otolaryngology and Sensory Organ Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.
Inohara
H
H
Akahani
S
S
Yoshii
T
T
Takenaka
Y
Y
Yoshida
J
J
Hattori
K
K
Tomiyama
Y
Y
Raz
A
A
Kubo
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D021381:Protein Transport; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D037502:Galectin 3