title: Galectin-3 expression in follicular tumours: an immunohistochemical study of its use as a marker of follicular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside binding family of lectins, has been regarded as a useful tool for discriminating malignant tumours from benign nodules of the thyroid, including the distinction between follicular carcinoma and adenoma. However, there are follicular tumours with unclear vascular or capsular invasion, which makes diagnosis more difficult. In this study, we investigated the relationship between galectin-3 expression and the degree of vascular or capsular invasion of follicular tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  We immunohistochemically investigated galectin-3 expression in 260 cases of follicular tumour with various degrees of vascular or capsular invasion classified into four categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The galectin-3 expression level significantly increased with the degree of vascular or capsular invasion (p<0.0001). However, its diagnostic value for follicular carcinoma was not high because the sensitivity and specificity were 68.7% and 57.5%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that galectin-3 plays a role in the transformation of follicular tumours from benign to malignant; however, when diagnosing follicular tumours, the presence of this protein should not be required for diagnosing malignant transformation in all cases. Therefore, we must conclude that galectin-3 should only be considered an adjuvant marker for follicular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, 8-2-35 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. ito01@kuma-h.or.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomoda
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miya
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsuzuka
authors.forename: Hironao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasuoka
authors.forename: Kennichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakudo
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inohara
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuma
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3