[en] Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding lectin family, is involved in several biological events including binding to the basement membrane glycoprotein laminin. Although the exact role of galectin-3 during the interactions between cells and laminin is not yet known, it has recently been observed that its expression is down-regulated at both the protein and the mRNA level in colon cancer tissues in correlation with progression of the disease. This study investigated the possibility that breast cancer cells might also exhibit decreased galectin-3 expression in association with their aggressiveness. The expression of galectin-3 was examined by immunoperoxidase staining, using a polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant galectin-3, in a collection of 98 human breast lesions including 12 fibroadenomas, 15 fibrocystic disease lesions, 22 in situ carcinomas, and 49 infiltrating ductal carcinomas, 19 of which had positive axillary lymph nodes. Normal breast tissue adjacent to the lesions was present in 59 biopsies. Normal breast tissue expressed high levels (3+) of galectin-3. High expression (2+ to 3+) was also found in most benign lesions examined. The expression of galectin-3 was significantly decreased in in situ carcinoma and this down-regulation was more pronounced in invasive ductal carcinoma, particularly when associated with infiltration of axillary lymph nodes. These data constitute the first observation that galectin-3 is down-regulated in breast cancer and suggest the decreased expression of this galactoside-binding lectin is associated with the acquisition of the invasive and metastatic phenotype.
Castronovo, Vincenzo ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie générale et cellulaire - GIGA-R : Labo de recherche sur les métastases
van den Brule, Frédéric; Université de Liège - ULiège > Laboratoire de recherche sur les métastases
Jackers, Pascale ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Laboratoire de recherche sur les métastases
Clausse, Nathalie; Université de Liège - ULiège > Laboratoire de recherche sur les métastases
Liu, Fu-Tong; Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, CA, USA > Molecular and Experimental Medicine
Gillet, Claudette; National Cancer Institute - NCI > Laboratory of Pathology
Sobel, Mark E.; National Cancer Institute - NCI > Laboratory of Pathology
Language :
English
Title :
Decreased expression of galectin-3 is associated with progression of human breast cancer.
Publication date :
May 1996
Journal title :
Journal of Pathology
ISSN :
0022-3417
eISSN :
1096-9896
Publisher :
John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Chichester, United Kingdom
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