title: Clinical implication of the serum galectin-1 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  galectin-1 has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis and is frequently over-expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but its potential as a biomarker remains unclear. In this novel study, we have explored the possible use of galectin-1 as a biomarker for EOC.
  
  
  METHODS
  galectin-1 in sera was evaluated by ELISA in a pilot panel of EOC patients, healthy volunteers, patients with benign gynecologic tumors or other gynecologic malignancies. We examined galectin-1 expression in EOC tumor samples by Western Blot, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. In vitro experiments were conducted to elucidate the biologic role of galectin-1 in EOC progression using over-expression of galectin-1 in OVCAR-3 cells. We also looked for the association of galectin-1 expression with clinic pathological variables and survival outcomes in EOC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference was detected in serum galectin-1 between EOC patients with non-metastatic and those with metastatic disease, but not between EOC patients and healthy volunteers. It increased in recurrent cases and decreased after debulking surgery. Both of galectin-1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in 90 % of the examined EOC tissue samples, compared with a wedge resection of a normal ovary. High galectin-1 in peritumor stroma was primarily detected in advanced stages of EOC. Over expression of galectin-1 significantly increased the ability of OVCAR-3 cells' migration and invasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that galectin-1 might play a role in tumor progression and be associated with poor outcome in EOC. It could be a novel prognostic and progression biomarker in EOC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jingshi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Junjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China. tanjie_hospital@126.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D037483:Galectin 1; C451759:MUC16 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins