This study seeks to determine whether the relative levels of attachment to
galectins 1 and 3 of cells from thyroid tissues embedded in
paraffin blocks can differentiate thyroid
tumors from normal tissues. A total of 48 thyroid
paraffin sample blocks from 4 groups of patients were analyzed: 12 samples served as controls, 12 samples were from patients with
thyroid adenoma, 12 samples were from patients with thyroid follicular
carcinoma, and 12 samples were from patients with thyroid
papillary carcinoma. The relative attachment of cells to
galectins 1 and 3
antigens was determined using the InnoCyte™ ECM Cell Adhesion kit at different cell sample concentrations. All of the samples from thyroid tissue preparations showed attachment to
galectins 1 and 3. The samples from tissues with a diagnosis of
adenoma, follicular and
papillary carcinoma showed an increased adherence to
galectins 1 and 3 relative to the controls. Significant differences were found between the means of the adherent cells from the
adenomas compared with the follicular and
papillary carcinoma samples. When the outcomes from the
galectins 1 and 3 cell surface binding were compared, no statistical differences were found. The cells from
adenoma and
carcinoma samples show more adhesion to
galectins 1 and 3 than cells from the control samples. The samples prepared from follicular and
papillary carcinomas show more cells adherent to
galectins 1 and 3 than those from the
adenomas.