Galectin-1 expression in cancer-associated stromal cells correlates tumor invasiveness and tumor progression in breast cancer.
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.
Jung
Eun-Jung
EJ
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
Moon
Hyeong-Gon
HG
Cho
Bok Im
BI
Jeong
Chi-Young
CY
Joo
Young-Tae
YT
Lee
Young-Joon
YJ
Hong
Soon-Chan
SC
Choi
Sang-Kyung
SK
Ha
Woo-Song
WS
Kim
Jae Won
JW
Lee
Chang-Won
CW
Lee
Jong Sil
JS
Park
Soon-Tae
ST
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*
D017931:DNA Primers; D037483:Galectin 1