Differential expression of galectin-3 in medullary thyroid carcinoma and C-cell hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside-binding protein that plays a role in cell adhesion and tumour progression. It was shown recently to diagnose malignant follicular thyroid lesions accurately. The reliability of this marker in the differential diagnosis between medullary thyroid carcinoma and C-cell hyperplasia was studied by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Tissue specimens were obtained from 34 patients belonging to families with medullary thyroid carcinoma who underwent prophylactic thyroidectomy for RET gene mutation and/or abnormally increased plasma calcitonin levels.


RESULTS
Galectin-3 was expressed in 23 of 25 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma and in none of the nine cases of C-cell hyperplasia only, giving a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 100% for the diagnosis of carcinoma. A significant association was found between higher galectin-3 expression and occurrence of lymph node metastases (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Galectin-3 is a reliable diagnostic marker of medullary thyroid carcinoma, and its use may provide relevant information for prognosis and therapy.
Faggiano
Antongiulio
A
Department of Pathology, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique LRC29V, Institut Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif Cedex, France. afaggiano@hotmail.com
Talbot
Monique
M
Lacroix
Ludovic
L
Bidart
Jean Michel
JM
Baudin
Eric
E
Schlumberger
Martin
M
Caillou
Bernard
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D037502:Galectin 3; D002116:Calcitonin