title: Serum Galectin-3 Levels in Dogs with Metastatic and Non-metastatic Mammary Tumors.
abstract: Galectin-3 is implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. High levels of galectin-3 have been reported in intravasated cells in primary and metastatic tumor sites of canine malignant mammary tumors (CMMT). Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether this increase is limited to the site of the lesion or if it is a systemic feature. To better understand the pattern of the expression of galectin-3 and to investigate the possibility of using serum galectin-3 levels as a relevant biomarker in this disease, galectin-3 concentrations were determined in a series of sera from CMMT-bearing female dogs. None of the dogs included in the study had detectable metastases at the time of presentation. Animals were retrospectively divided into two groups dependent on whether or not they developed metastatic lesions during a 25-month follow-up period. Samples were collected from all dogs before surgery, 1 month after resection of the primary tumor and every 3 months during the postoperative period. Galectin-3 levels were significantly higher 1 month after than at the time of surgery (p=0.0058). Higher galectin-3 was found in samples collected 7 (p=0.0007), 10 (p=0.0061) and 13 months (p=0.0052) after surgery from dogs of the metastatic group when compared to those remaining free of development of detectable metastases. In conclusion, increased serum galectin-3 levels seem to be present in both metastatic and non-metastatic cases during the postoperative period, however, while in non-metastatic cases the values tend to return to baseline levels after surgery, in metastatic cases, levels remain persistently elevated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana Sá
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Abel Salazar, Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Animal Science and Study Central, Food and Agrarian Sciences and Technologies Institute, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Augusto J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: DE Matos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Abel Salazar, Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.affiliation: Specialist Veterinary Centre De Wagenrenk, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerard R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rutteman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal joanao@ipatimup.pt.
authors.forename: Joana T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: DE Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: Galectin-3; canine malignant mammary tumour; metastases; serum