title: Expression of galectin-3 in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck and its relationship with distant metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common malignant tumours of the salivary glands characterized by multiple recurrences and distant metastasis resulting in significantly worsening prognosis. Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding lectin family, has been implicated in tumour progression, metastasis, and found to have prognostic value. The aim of the study was to determine galectin-3 expression in ACC and correlate it with clinicopathological features and patient survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Galectin-3 expression was investigated in paraffin sections of 35 ACC of the head and neck. Patients were divided into two groups based on a threshold of 5% positivity in the tumour cell population. The mean follow-up period for all patients was 90.1 months (range 3-300.1 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen (48.6%) tumour specimens were considered galectin-3-positive. Galectin-3 reactivity was significantly associated with regional and distant metastasis (P=0.045 and P<0.001, respectively). There was no statistical significance in the correlation of galectin-3 expression and disease-free survival and overall survival rate (P=0.095 and 0.102, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 may be used as an indicator in the prediction of metastatic spread in ACC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Philipps University, Deutschhaus str. 3, 35037, Marburg, Germany. teymoort@med.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teymoortash
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pientka
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiemann
authors.forename: Jochen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3