title: Differential expression of galectin-3 in papillary projections of malignant and non-malignant hyperplastic thyroid lesions.
abstract: Galectin-3 is a a beta-galactoside binding protein recently proposed to be a promising presurgical molecular marker for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid neoplasms. We analyzed galectin-3 expression immunohistochemically in papillary areas of hyperplastic lesions of benign thyroid tissue in comparison with malignant papillary projections of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A monoclonal antibody to galectin-3 and ABC immunohistochemical technique were used to evaluate galectin-3 expression in 26 cases of benign papillary hyperplasia (8 cases of hyperplastic adenoma, 8 cases of hyperplastic colloid goiter, 10 cases of Graves disease) in comparison with 25 cases of PTC. Immunohistochemical results showed no reactivity for galectin-3 in papillary areas of benign hyperplastic lesions. Strong cytoplasmic galectin-3 immunoreactivity was found in all 25 cases of PTC. These results show that galectin-3 expression is a feature of malignant papillary projections but not of benign papillary hyperplasia. Thus, the immunohistochemical evaluation of galectin-3 might contribute to differential diagnosis between malignant and benign thyroid lesions with papillary projections.
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Zemun, Belgrade.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cvejić
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savin
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petrović
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paunović
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatić
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Havelka
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3