Increased expression and altered intracellular distribution of adhesion/growth-regulatory lectins galectins-1 and -7 during tumour progression in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the level of expression of the pleiotropic regulators galectins-1 and -7 in relation to neoplastic progression of hypopharyngeal (HSCCs) and laryngeal (LSCCs) squamous cell carcinomas.


RESULTS
The presence of galectins-1 and -7 was investigated using quantitative immunohistochemistry in (i) a series of 78 HSCCs by comparison with 17 normal epithelia (N_E), 26 low-grade dysplasia (low_D) and 27 high-grade dysplasia (high_D) and (ii) a series of 56 LSCCs by comparison with 50 N_E, 23 low_D and 29 high_D. Galectin-1 positivity expressed as a percentage of cells was significantly higher in carcinomas (HSCCs and LSCCs) than in N_E, low_D or high_D (P < 10(-6)). Galectin-7 expression was elevated in low_D (P = 0.0004) compared with N_E and in carcinomas (HSCC) compared with high_D (P = 0.0002). Tumour progression from high_D to carcinomas was associated with a shift of galectin-1 localization from the nucleus towards the cytoplasm. Increased expression of galectin-7 in dysplasias was accompanied by a shift from the cytoplasmic compartment (N_E) to the nucleus (low_D and high_D).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data reveal an association between the level of presence of galectins-1 and -7 and neoplastic progression of HSCCs and LSCCs. Moreover, inverse shifts between nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity intimating functional divergence were detected.
Saussez
S
S
Laboratory of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium. sven.saussez@umh.ac.be
Decaestecker
C
C
Lorfevre
F
F
Chevalier
D
D
Mortuaire
G
G
Kaltner
H
H
André
S
S
Toubeau
G
G
Gabius
H-J
HJ
Leroy
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D037161:Galectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037483:Galectin 1; D037161:Galectins; C092525:LGALS7 protein, human