High level of galectin-1 expression is a negative prognostic predictor of recurrence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
Monitoring of gene-expression profiles is assumed to refine tumor characterization of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) with a therapeutic perspective. This is especially expected for adhesion/growth-regulatory effectors such as galectins, a class of endogenous lectins. Using computer-assisted microscopy, we investigated the prognostic value contributed by the quantitative determination of the immunohistochemical levels of expression of galectin-1, -3 and -7 in a series of 62 LSCCs including 42 low- and 20 high-stage LSCCs. As galectin-1 may have a key role leading to a tumor escape from immune surveillance, we also investigated whether or not the level of galectin-1 expression correlated with lymphocyte infiltration in LSCCs. The immunohistochemical determination of expression of galectin-1 is of prognostic value in human squamous laryngeal cancers. LSCCs that display high levels of galectin-1 have worse prognoses than laryngeal cancers with low levels of galectin-1 expression. Elevation of galectin-1 levels in laryngeal cancers can contribute to the process of tumor immune escape by killing the activated T-cells and other protumoral activities such as promoting motility or activity of oncogenic H-Ras proteins. The quantitative determination of galectin-1 in LSCCs is an independent prognostic marker when opposed to TNM staging. It has the potential to identify patients unlikely to benefit from T-cell-mediated immunotherapy, although the definitive effector function from its pro- and antitumoral activity profile has not been delineated.
Saussez
Sven
S
Laboratory of Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium.
Decaestecker
Christine
C
Lorfevre
Francois
F
Cucu
Diana-Raluca
DR
Mortuaire
Goeffrey
G
Chevalier
Dominique
D
Wacreniez
Agnes
A
Kaltner
Herbert
H
André
Sabine
S
Toubeau
Gérard
G
Camby
Isabelle
I
Gabius
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Kiss
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D037483:Galectin 1