title: Prognostic significance of serum galectin-3 levels in patients with hepatocellular cancer and chronic viral hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Galectins affect diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes such as development, inflammation, and tumor growth. We aimed to compare serum galectin-3 levels in three patient groups with chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV), cirrhosis secondary to HBV or HCV, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to HBV or HCV and evaluate the role of galectin-3 during HCC progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with hepatocellular cancer, 22 patients with cirrhosis, and 24 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C were included in this study. Serum galectin-3 levels in different liver diseases were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean galectin-3 levels were 4.61 ng/mL (±2.32) in HCC patients, 5.68 ng/mL (±2,2) in cirrhotic patients, 1.98 ng/mL (±1.50) in chronic viral hepatitis group. There were no statistical differences between HCC and cirrhotic patients (P = 0.5), but lower in chronic hepatitis group statistically compared with cirrhosis and HCC (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). In case of cirrhotic patients, galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis secondary to HCV compared with HBV (P = 0.03). When we evaluated galectin-3 levels in HCC patients, it was found to be 3.92 ng/mL in HCC secondary to hepatitis B and 5.37 ng/mL in HCC secondary to hepatitis C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic HBV or HCV may guide us about progression to cirrhosis or HCC and prognosis of the disease. Especially, galectin-3 levels may be more pronounced in case of HCV.
authors: Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Ulu
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Alacacioglu
authors: Esma
authors: E
authors: Yuksel
authors: Baris O
authors: BO
authors: Pamukk
authors: Giray
authors: G
authors: Bozkaya
authors: Alpay
authors: A
authors: Ari
authors: Arif
authors: A
authors: Yuksel
authors: Gulten
authors: G
authors: Sop
authors: Inci
authors: I
authors: Alacacioglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3