title: [Expression and prognostic significance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in benign nevi and melanomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression and prognostic significance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in different melanocytic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in 39 cases of benign nevus, 58 cases of primary cutaneous melanoma, 24 cases of primary mucosal melanoma, 69 cases of melanoma with lymph node metastasis and 8 cases of melanoma with distant metastasis were studied by immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 was higher in benign nevi than in melanomas (P < 0.01). The nuclear expression of galectin-3 was higher in primary cutaneous melanomas than in primary mucosal melanomas or melanomas with metastases (P < 0.01, respectively). The expression correlated with age of patients (P < 0.05), necrosis (P < 0.05) and survival time (P < 0.01). Clark's level also correlated with survival time in patients with cutaneous melanomas (P = 0.037). TNM staging was the only independent prognostic factor for melanomas (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 is decreased in melanomas. The decrease in nuclear expression of galectin-3 may represent a poor prognostic factor for melanomas. TNM staging is an independent prognostic factor which influences the survival time.
authors: Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China. E-mail: zhwuli@hotmail.com.
authors: Zhong-wu
authors: ZW
authors: Li
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Wei-cheng
authors: WC
authors: Xue
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Si
authors: Chuan-liang
authors: CL
authors: Cui
authors: Deng-feng
authors: DF
authors: Cao
authors: Li-Xin
authors: LX
authors: Zhou
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Guo
authors: Ai-ping
authors: AP
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009506:Nevus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C445499:LGALS1 protein, human; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human