title: Galectin-1 expression in cancer-associated stromal cells correlates tumor invasiveness and tumor progression in breast cancer.
abstract: Understanding the molecular background of breast cancer biology is critical in developing new biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and more optimized treatment. We performed a proteomic analysis of human breast carcinoma tissues to investigate the tumor-specific protein expression in breast carcinoma. Using 2-dimensional electorphoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), we were able to identify a list of proteins which are upregulated in cancerous tissue. There was significant increase of galectin-1 expression in all cancerous tissues compared to noncancerous tissues, and its increased expression was further confirmed by western blot immunostaining. Subsequent immunohistochemical staining against galectin-1 in 105 breast cancer specimens showed significant correlation between galectin-1 expression in cancer-associated stromal cells and tumor invasiveness, T stage, TNM stage, and axillary lymph node metastasis. Galectin-1 expressionin cancer cells showed no correlation to above-mentioned pathologic variables. Hormonal receptor status and galectin-1 expression showed no correlation. This study demonstrates the upregulation of galectin-1 in breast carcinoma tissues and the clinical significance of galectin-1 in breast cancer patients. Our data supports the recently highlighted roles of galectin-1 in cancer-associated stroma and in tumor immune privilege.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hyeong-Gon
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Bok Im
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chi-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sang-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Woo-Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Sil
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D040901:Proteomics; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D037483:Galectin 1