title: Galectin-1 and galectin-3: plausible tumour markers for oral squamous cell carcinoma and suitable targets for screening high-risk population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Galectins are a family of carbohydrate binding proteins that regulate several cellular functions such as growth, migration, adhesion and apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the expression of galectin (gal)-1 and galectin (gal)-3 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and observed their effects on growth and survival of OSCC cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OSCC patients expressed significantly higher levels of gal-1 and gal-3 in circulation (p<0.0001) and at the tumour sites (p<0.01) as compared to controls. Patients with higher tumour load showed significantly higher expression of both galectins than those with lower tumour load. In ROC analysis, serum levels of gal-1 and gal-3 at cut-off values of 4.875 and 0.871ng/ml respectively, discriminated between healthy subjects and patients with more than 80% sensitivity and specificity. Similarly, logistic regression analysis revealed about 3-times higher risk of OSCC in subjects over expressing these proteins. Further, exogenous gal-1 and gal-3 significantly increased survival, proliferation and angiogenesis in OSCC cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of gal-1 and gal-3 may serve as plausible markers for oral squamous cell carcinoma and may be useful in screening population at a higher risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Sadhna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Suresh C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India. Electronic address: satyandas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Satya N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012306:Risk; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Biomarker; Galectins; Oral cancer; ROC; Risk association; Tumour growth