The Galectin 3 Expression in Benign and Malignant Breast Tumor.
- Author:
Si Young PARK
1
;
Dae Cheol KIM
;
Se Heon CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast;
Galectin 3;
Carcinoma;
Fibroadenoma;
Papilloma
- MeSH:
Biological Processes;
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Carcinoma, Ductal;
Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating;
Carrier Proteins;
Cell Adhesion;
Cell Movement;
Epithelium;
Fibroadenoma;
Galectin 3*;
Galectins*;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Papilloma;
Papilloma, Intraductal
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2007;73(6):459-464
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Galectin 3 is a beta-galactoside binding protein that is involved in various biological processes such as cell adhesion, migration, cell growth, tumor progression and metastasis. Although the precise acting mechanisms of Galectin 3 are unclear, it have been reported that the expression of Galectin 3 may related to tumor progression and metastasis. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of Galectin 3 in 57 cases of benign and malignant breast neoplasm to evaluate the relation of a Galectin 3 expression to malignancy of breast neoplasm and the acting mechanism of Galectin 3. METHODS: Twenty fibroadenomas, 7 intraductal papillomas, 10 intraductal carcinomas and 20 invasive ductal carcinomas were studied. Immunostaining of Galectin 3 was evaluated in comparison with that of the internal controls, and the intensity of immunostaining was semiquantitatively graded on an intensity scale of 0 to 3. RESULTS: The normal ductal epithelium of the breast showed strong immunoreactivity with an intensity 2 to 3. The staining gradually and significantly decreased in accordance with the histopathological type and tumor progression from a fibroadenoma, intraductal papilloma, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma (P<0.001). In particular, the expression of galection-3 was prominently decreased in invasive ductal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The galectin-3 expression pattern suggests that progression from benign breast tumor to malignant breast tumor leads to a reduced expression of galectin-3.
