Galectin-3 expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma: relation to histomorphologic growth pattern, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroid invasion, and tumor size.
BACKGROUND
Galectin-3 has been recently recognized as a promising presurgical marker of thyroid malignancy.


METHODS
Galectin-3 expression was examined immunohistochemically in 202 specimens of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in relation to histomorphologic subtypes and clinicopathologic data. RESULTS.: The sensitivity of galectin-3 immunostaining versus conventional histology was 98% (100 of 102) for classical PTC, 85.2% (46 of 54) for follicular variant, and 50% (23 of 46) for follicular/solid variant of PTC. All cases (n = 36) involving lymph node metastases and 42 of 45 cases with extrathyroid invasion expressed galectin-3. However, among the galectin-3-positive cases (n = 169), 133 were without lymph node metastases, and 127 were without extrathyroid invasion. Galectin-3 expression was not related to the size of intrathyroid PTC.


CONCLUSIONS
Galectin-3 immunohistochemical expression itself is not an indicator of local metastatic spread or extrathyroid invasion of PTC, thus being irrelevant clinically from this aspect. Galectin-3 is an excellent marker for classical PTC but must be used with caution in diagnosing unconventional variants of PTC because of the possibility of false-negative results.
Cvejic
Dubravka S
DS
Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy-INEP, University of Belgrade, 11080 Zemun-Belgrade, Banatska 31b, Serbia and Montenegro. dubravka@inep.co.yu
Savin
Svetlana B
SB
Petrovic
Ivana M
IM
Paunovic
Ivan R
IR
Tatic
Svetislav B
SB
Havelka
Marija J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3