Clinical Implication of Galectin-1 Expression in Human Breast Cancer.
- Author:
Hyeong Gon MOON
1
;
Jeong In PARK
;
Jong Sil LEE
;
Chi Young JEONG
;
Young Tae JOO
;
Eun Jung JUNG
;
Young Joon LEE
;
Soon Chan HONG
;
Sang Kyung CHOI
;
Woo Song HA
;
Soon Tae PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Breast neoplasms; Galectins; Neoplasm invasiveness; Immunohistochemistry
- MeSH: Animals; Breast Neoplasms*; Breast*; Galectin 1*; Galectins; Humans*; Immunohistochemistry; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Stromal Cells
- From:Journal of Breast Cancer 2006;9(1):36-40
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- 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.
