title: Galectin-3 is associated with a poor prognosis in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding lectin family, is a multifunctional protein with various biological functions, including the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells, angiogenesis, cancer progression, and metastasis. We aimed to clarify if expression of galectin-3 is related to the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and to explore the possible mechanisms of galectin-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, we investigated galectin-3 mRNA and protein expression by using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Second, tissues from 165 HCC patients were used to evaluate clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis through immunohistochemical analyses. Furthermore, the functions of galectin-3 were analyzed with respect to the proliferation, cell cycle,apoptosis, migration, and invasion of HCC cell lines. Finally, we analyzed galectin-3 expression and micro-vessel density (MVD) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) to find its correlation with angiogenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Flow cytometer was used to explore apoptosis and Western-blot was used to detect the pathway proteins of apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Galectin-3 showed high expression at the mRNA and protein levels in HCC cancer tissues and cell lines. Clinicopathological analyses revealed that increased expression of galectin-3 in tumors was closely associated with a poor prognosis. Galectin-3 knockdown by siRNA significantly inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis in HCC cells in vitro, whereas galectin-3 overexpression promoted cell growth, migration, and invasion. Correlation analysis of galectin-3 expression and micro-vessel density (MVD) showed that galectin-3 expression in tumor cells stimulates angiogenesis. The observed regulation of cell apoptosis was accompanied by the galectin-3-mediated modulation of caspase3 signaling pathways in HCC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that galectin-3 plays an important part in HCC progression and may serve as a prognostic factor for HCC.
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: De-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Qi-Jing
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yao-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing-Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Qiu-Zhong
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jian-Chuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3