title: The growing galectin network in colon cancer and clinical relevance of cytoplasmic galectin-3 reactivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human lectins translate sugar-encoded signals of cell surface glycoconjugates into biological effects, and this is what is known for the adhesion/growth-regulatory galectins. In addition, the multifunctional members of this group can be intracellular, binding to distinct proteins. The presence of galectins and galectin reactivity were exemplarily studied in the present article.
  
  
  METHODS
  We combined immuno- and lectin histochemical monitoring in colon cancer on tissue arrays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intracellular presence of galectins-7 and -9 in colon cancer is detected, extending the previously known set of five expressed lectins this tumor type. The assumed significance of intracellular galectin presence, e.g. for an interplay with BCL2, β-catenin, oncogenic KRAS or synexin, is underscored by respective staining with labeled galectin-3. Statistical significance was obtained for galectin-3 staining with respect to tumor differentiation (p=0.0376), lymph node metastasis (p=0.0069) and lymphatic invasion (p=0.0156). Survival was correlated to staining, galectin-3 reactivity indicating a favorable prognosis (p=0.0183), albeit not as an independent marker. No correlation to KRAS/BRAF status was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results encourage further testing of labeled human galectins as probes and immunohistochemical fingerprinting instead of measuring single or few activities, in colon cancer and other tumor types.
authors.affiliation: Head Translational Research Unit (TRU), Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, Room L414, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. inti.zlobec@pathology.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karamitopoulou
authors.forename: Inti
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zlobec
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gabius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001798:Blood Proteins; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human
keywords: Apoptosis; glycosylation; invasion; lectin; prognosis