Lack of Expression of Galectin-3 Is Associated With a Poor Outcome in Node-Negative Patients With Laryngeal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma

Galectin-3 is a pleiotropic carbohydrate-binding protein participating in a variety of normal and pathologic processes, including cancer progression. This study was aimed at evaluating the prognostic value of galectin-3 expression in node-negative laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC). Galectin-3...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of clinical oncology 2002-09, Vol.20 (18), p.3850-3856
Hauptverfasser: PIANTELLI, Mauro, LACOBELLI, Stefano, ALMADORI, Giovanni, LEZZI, Manuela, TINARI, Nicola, NATOLI, Clara, CADONI, Gabriella, LAURIOLA, Libero, RANELLETTI, Franco O
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Galectin-3 is a pleiotropic carbohydrate-binding protein participating in a variety of normal and pathologic processes, including cancer progression. This study was aimed at evaluating the prognostic value of galectin-3 expression in node-negative laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC). Galectin-3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using M3/38 monoclonal antibody, in a single-institution series of 73 node-negative laryngeal SCC patients (median follow-up, 52 months; range, 2 to 90 months). Forty-two (57.5%) of 73 patients expressed galectin-3. Galectin-3 expression was positively associated with tumor keratinization and histologic grade. A significant correlation was found between galectin-3 tumor positivity and longer relapse-free and overall survival. In univariate analysis, high-grade (grade 3 or 4) tumors, nonkeratinizing tumors, and galectin-3-negative tumors showed a significantly increased risk of relapse and death. In multivariate analysis, only galectin-3 expression retained an independent prognostic significance for both relapse-free and overall survival. We conclude that the absence of galectin-3 expression is an independent negative prognostic marker in laryngeal SCC patients. Thus, histochemical detection of galectin-3 in these tumors could be useful for the selection of node-negative patients with potentially unfavorable outcomes, to establish adjuvant therapy protocols.
ISSN:0732-183X
1527-7755
DOI:10.1200/JCO.2002.01.078