[The expression of galectin-3 and osteopontin in occult metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between expression of galectin-3 (Gal-3) and osteopontin (OPN) in occult metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
Forty-six patients of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from January 2006 to October 2007 were selected. There were 28 males and 18 females, aged from 33 to 77 years old. The levels of lung tissues Gal-3 and OPN were detected by RT-PCR, and the levels of blood plasma's were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
There were 12 patients who had metastasized. In un-metastasis group the Gal-3 and OPN mRNA expression levels were significantly lower than that in metastasis group: mean value were 0.07 +/- 0.17 and 0.17 +/- 0.25 in un-metastasis group, while 0.73 +/- 0.23 and 0.79 +/- 0.24 in metastasis group. Blood plasma levels of Gal-3 (18.8 +/- 7.9) microg/L and OPN (153.5 +/- 63.5) microg/L in NSCLC which were detected from metastasis group were higher than un-metastasis group of (9.2 +/- 5.6) microg/L and (89.2 +/- 24.0) microg/L.


CONCLUSIONS
High serum levels of Gal-3 and OPN and high expression of Gal-3 and OPN mRNA in NSCLC are closely related to the occurrence and metastasis of NSCLC. They may be indexes of evaluating the occult metastasis in NSCLC.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Beijing 100020, China.
Yong
Y
Liang
Hui
H
Li
Sheng-cai
SC
Hou
Bin
B
Hu
Jin-bai
JB
Miao
Tong
T
Li
Bin
B
You
Li-xin
LX
Yu
Lei
L
Wang
Qi-rui
QR
Chen
Xing
X
Chen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D037502:Galectin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053495:Osteopontin