title: Galectin-9 predicts postoperative recurrence and survival of patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Galectin-9 (Gal-9), a member of animal lectin family with evolutionary conserved carbohydrate recognition domains, has been reported to exert a large variety of functional roles in tumorigenesis due to its β-galactoside-binding affinity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of Gal-9 in patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The expression of Gal-9 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 196 patients with ccRCC who underwent nephrectomy. In the cohort, 48 patients died and 61 patients suffered recurrence. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was applied to compare survival curves. The authors employed univariate and multivariate Cox regression models to evaluate the prognostic value of Gal-9 expression in overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In patients with ccRCC, Gal-9 expression, which was positively associated with tumor size (P = 0.014), Fuhrman grade (P = 0.010), and necrosis (P = 0.025), was determined to be an independent prognostic indicator for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.394; P = 0.005) and RFS (HR 2.096; P = 0.006). High expression of Gal-9 was associated with poor survival (P = 0.001) and early recurrence (P = 0.006). Furthermore, Gal-9 expression could significantly stratify the patients in early (grades I + II) tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage (OS: P = 0.005; RFS: P = 0.041) and low (grades 1 + 2) Fuhrman grade (OS: P = 0.004; RFS: P = 0.006). The prognostic accuracy of TNM, SSIGN, and UISS prognostic models was improved when Gal-9 expression was added. Gal-9 expression is a potential independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS in patients with ccRCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Hangcheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yidong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Weisi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Haiou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weijuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiejie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D037161:Galectins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037161:Galectins; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human