Lack of expression of galectin-3 is associated with a poor outcome in node-negative patients with laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Galectin-3 is a pleiotropic carbohydrate-binding protein participating in a variety of normal and pathologic processes, including cancer progression. This study was aimed at evaluating the prognostic value of galectin-3 expression in node-negative laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).


METHODS
Galectin-3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using M3/38 monoclonal antibody, in a single-institution series of 73 node-negative laryngeal SCC patients (median follow-up, 52 months; range, 2 to 90 months).


RESULTS
Forty-two (57.5%) of 73 patients expressed galectin-3. Galectin-3 expression was positively associated with tumor keratinization and histologic grade. A significant correlation was found between galectin-3 tumor positivity and longer relapse-free and overall survival. In univariate analysis, high-grade (grade 3 or 4) tumors, nonkeratinizing tumors, and galectin-3-negative tumors showed a significantly increased risk of relapse and death. In multivariate analysis, only galectin-3 expression retained an independent prognostic significance for both relapse-free and overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the absence of galectin-3 expression is an independent negative prognostic marker in laryngeal SCC patients. Thus, histochemical detection of galectin-3 in these tumors could be useful for the selection of node-negative patients with potentially unfavorable outcomes, to establish adjuvant therapy protocols.
Piantelli
Mauro
M
Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy. mpiantelli@unich.it
Iacobelli
Stefano
S
Almadori
Giovanni
G
Iezzi
Manuela
M
Tinari
Nicola
N
Natoli
Clara
C
Cadoni
Gabriella
G
Lauriola
Libero
L
Ranelletti
Franco O
FO
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation; D037502:Galectin 3; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3