Galectins-1, -3, and -7 Are Prognostic Markers for Survival of Ovarian Cancer Patients.

Abstract

There is a tremendous need for developing new useful prognostic factors in ovarian cancer. Galectins are a family of carbohydrate binding proteins which have been suggested to serve as prognostic factors for various cancer types. In this study, the presence of Galectin-1, -3, and -7 was investigated in 156 ovarian cancer specimens by immunochemical staining. Staining was evaluated in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cancer cells as well as the peritumoral stroma using a semi quantitative score (Remmele (IR) score). Patients' overall survival was compared between different groups of Galectin expression. Galectin (Gal)-1 and -3 staining was observed in the peritumoral stroma as well as the nucleus and cytoplasm of tumor cells, while Gal-7 was only present in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. Patients with Gal-1 expression in the cytoplasm or high Gal-1 expression in the peritumoral stroma showed reduced overall survival. Nuclear Gal-3 staining correlated with a better outcome. We observed a significantly reduced overall survival for cases with high Gal-7 expression and a better survival for Gal-7 negative cases, when compared to cases with low expression of Gal-7. We were able to show that both tumor and stroma staining of Gal-1 could serve as negative prognostic factors for ovarian cancer. We were able to confirm cytoplasmic Gal-7 as a negative prognostic factor. Gal-3 staining in the nucleus could be a new positive prognosticator for ovarian cancer.

• Authors: Heiko Schulz, Elisa Schmoeckel, Christina Kuhn, Simone Hofmann, Doris Mayr, Sven Mahner, Udo Jeschke
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 18 Issue 6 (Jun 08 2017) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 28594391 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Blood Proteins
• Galectin 1
• Galectin 3
• Galectins
• LGALS3 protein, human
• LGALS7 protein, human

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Blood Proteins
• Cell Nucleus (metabolism)
• Female
• Galectin 1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Galectin 3 (genetics, metabolism)
• Galectins (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Grading
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Staging
• Ovarian Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Prognosis
• Stromal Cells (metabolism)