J Breast Cancer.  2006 Mar;9(1):36-40. 10.4048/jbc.2006.9.1.36.

Clinical Implication of Galectin-1 Expression in Human Breast Cancer

• Moon HG
• Park JI
• Lee JS
• Jeong CY
• Joo YT
• Jung EJ
• Lee YJ
• Hong SC
• Choi SK
• Ha WS
• Park ST

• KMID: 1976166
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2006.9.1.36

Abstract

PURPOSE
The role of different galectins in the pathogenesis of different types of malignancy is now being intensely investigated. In this study, authors investigated the level of galectin-1 expression in human breast cancer tissue to define its relationship to the tumor invasiveness and tumor progression.
METHODS
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 79 randomly selected breast cancer patients were used to perform immunohistochemical staining for galectin-1. The primary antibody was diluted mouse monoclonal antibody against galectin-1. The staining results were then interpreted by an experienced pathologist, and the results were compared between the groups having different pathologic variables.
RESULTS
In breast cancer patients, galectin-1 was diversely expressed in the cancer tissue. Galectin-1 was expressed in both cancer cells and cancer-associated stromal cells. The levels of galectin-1 expression in cancer-associated stromal cells were higher in patients with invasive carcinoma (p = 0.001), in patients with advanced T stages (p = 0.007), and in patients with advanced TNM stages (p = 0.007). The galectin-1 expression in cancer-associated stromal cells was also higher in patients with lymph node metastasis and advanced N stages, but did not reach a statistically significant level. The galectin-1 expression in cancer cell did not have any correlation with pathologic variables.
CONCLUSION
This is the first study that has demonstrated the relationship of galectin-1 expression with the tumor invasiveness and tumor progression in human breast cancer. Further large-scaled studies are needed to define the prognostic value of galectin-1 in breast cancer patients, and the exact role of galectin-1 should be investigated more thoroughly.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Galectins; Neoplasm invasiveness; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Animals
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Galectin 1*
Galectins
Humans*
Immunohistochemistry
Lymph Nodes
Mice
Neoplasm Invasiveness
Neoplasm Metastasis
Stromal Cells
Galectin 1
Galectins

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