title: Galectin-9 as an important marker in the differential diagnosis between oral squamous cell carcinoma, oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of Galectins (Gal) 1, 3 and 9, Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and mast cell density in oral lesions of patients with potentially malignant disorders (PMD) and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) by comparison with the controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 40 cases of PMD, 40 OSCC and 13 with normal histopathological profile. Immunohistochemistry was performed for Gal-1, Gal-3, Gal-9 and MMP-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gal-9 was significantly higher in patients with OSCC than in others groups (p < 0.001). Gal-1 expression was significantly lower in patients with leukoplakia than those with OSCC and controls (p = 0.0001). Gal-3 was significantly lower in patients with OSCC than those with leukoplakia (p = 0.03). MMP-3 was lower in patients with leukoplakia in comparison with the lichen planus group (p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased expression of Gal-9 may be helpful to differentiate of OSCC from other oral cavity lesions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janusa Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Renata
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bibiano Borges
authors.affiliation: CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beghini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba, MG, Brazil; CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Sivieri
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Polyanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miranda Alves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lilian Margareth Biagioni
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba, MG, Brazil; CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sanívia Aparecida de Lima
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruchele Dias
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Henrique
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Napimoga
authors.affiliation: CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virmondes
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba, MG, Brazil; CEFORES/Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: denise.rodrigues@uniube.br.
authors.forename: Denise Bertulucci Rocha
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D001549:Benzamides / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007971:Leukoplakia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D014443:Tyrosine; C012614:1-nitrohydroxyphenyl-N-benzoylalanine; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
keywords: Galectins; Mast cells; Metalloproteinases; Oral cancer; Potentially Malignant Disorders