Galectin-3 expression in follicular tumours: an immunohistochemical study of its use as a marker of follicular carcinoma.
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.
Ito
Yasuhiro
Y
Department of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, 8-2-35 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. ito01@kuma-h.or.jp
Yoshida
Hiroshi
H
Tomoda
Chisato
C
Miya
Akihiro
A
Kobayashi
Kaoru
K
Matsuzuka
Fumio
F
Yasuoka
Hironao
H
Kakudo
Kennichi
K
Inohara
Hidenori
H
Kuma
Kanji
K
Miyauchi
Akira
A
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3