Galectin-1 is a
beta-galactoside-binding lectin to function in cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and might be involved in
tumor progression and
metastasis. In the present study, the expression kinetics of
galectin-1 during the
tumorigenesis of a parasite
Opisthorchis viverrini infection-induced
cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) was investigated in model animal hamsters, and the expression was confirmed in human CCA cases. It was found that
galectin-1 was overexpressed at
mRNA and
protein levels with the
tumor progression. The
mRNA expression was elevated in very early stage during
tumorigenesis and the increase was time dependent.
Galectin-1 protein expression profiles indicated that the increased expression was mainly located in the epithelium of extensively proliferated and
hyperplasia small bile ducts at early stage of CCA development in model animal and mainly in the extensive
tumor stroma tissues in both model animals and human CCA cases at later stage. The analysis of correlation of the overexpression with clinicopathology in human cases suggested that high expression of
galectin-1 was associated with advanced stage and
metastasis and with shorter cumulative overall survival of the patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that
galectin-1 expression was of independent prognostic significance for CCA. Our results suggest that
galectin-1 is likely involved in the
tumorigenesis and expected to serve as a
tumor stroma marker in diagnosis and prediction of
metastasis and poor prognosis of the
opisthorchiasis-associated CCA.