Galectin-3 and PTEN expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms and gastrointestinal tumors on fine-needle aspiration cytology.
OBJECTIVE
Galectin-3 has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Its applicability in pancreatic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in separating malignant from benign lesions has never been addressed. In addition, a correlation between Galectin-3 and tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and their potential diagnostic value has never been tested.


METHODS
This study analyzed Galectin-3 immunohistochemical expression in FNA cell blocks of PDAC, pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNEN), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and non-tumor pancreatic tissue. In parallel, Galectin-3 and PTEN levels were evaluated in a tumor tissue microarray (TMA).


RESULTS
Forty-four of 46 PDAC FNA and 32 of 33 PDAC TMA demonstrated tumor-specific Galectin-3 positivity. In contrast, Galectin-3 was not detected in PNEN and GIST. Total loss of PTEN was displayed by 26 of 33 PDAC, while non-neoplastic tissues all retained PTEN expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Galectin-3 could be a valuable marker to help diagnose PDAC and rule out PNEN and GIST. In addition, PTEN positivity strongly argues against a diagnosis of PDAC. These data also advocate their potential diagnostic roles in the work up of challenging cytologic cases requiring ancillary test confirmation.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga., USA.
Kun
K
Jiang
Diane
D
Lawson
Cynthia
C
Cohen
Momin T
MT
Siddiqui
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001798:Blood Proteins; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037161:Galectins; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human