title: [The expression of galectin-3 in nodular thyroid goitre].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of galectin-3 in benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Galectin-3 expression was assayed with immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods in thyroid specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the specimens of thyroid carcinomas expressed galectin-3 with immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods (89.7% and 91.7%) and the expression was significantly in different histological types. Papillary and follicular thyroid malignancies showed high expression of galectin-3 (100% positive). Comparing the specimens of thyroid carcinomas with metastases and those without metastases, the expression of galectin-3 was significantly higher in the former than in the latter. Among 25 specimens of benign adenomas and 13 specimens of nodular hyperplasia, only 3 were weakly positive and other were negative. Neither 10 specimens of normal thyroid tissue nor 25 specimens of paracarcinomatous thyroid tissue expressed galectin-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 may be used as a marker for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. vingerchan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wen-jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mao-hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3