Decreased galectin‐3 expression in prostate cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND.Galectin-3 is a carbohydrate-binding protein whose level of expression has been shown to be correlated with metastatic potential in a number of different tumor types. The purpose of this investigation was to examine galectin-3 expression in several tumorigenic and nontumorigenic prostate cell lines and prostate tissue samples. METHODS. The expression of galectin-3 in cell lines and tissue samples was evaluated by tissue immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. RESULTS. Human cell lines PC-3M, PC-3, DU-145, PrEC-1, and MCF10A demonstrated the presence of galectin-3. Galectin-3 was not detected in TSU-pr1 and LNCaP by Western blot analysis. We furthered our studies by examining a series of human prostate tissue samples for expression of galectin-3. Overall, approximately 60-70% of the normal tissue examined demonstrated heterogenous expression of galectin-3. In stage II tumors, however, there was a dramatic decrease in galectin-3 expression in both PIN and tumor sections, with only 10.5% (2/19) of these samples expressing this protein. Stage III tumors also demonstrated a decreased expression of galectin-3, although this downregulation was not as dramatic, with 35% of PIN samples and 52% of tumor tissue expressing galectin-3 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS. These data demonstrate that galectin-3 is downregulated in prostate cancer. The altered downregulation pattern of galectin-3 observed between tumor stages suggests different roles for galectin-3 in the progression of prostate cancer.

Identification of Galectin-3 and Mucin-Type O-Glycans in Breast Cancer and Its Metastasis to Brain

“…For instance, expression of galectin-3 has been directly correlated with neoplastic potential and metastatic capacity in fibrosarcoma and melanoma cells (36) whereas Galectin-3 levels were found to be down-regulated in advanced prostate cancer (37) and colon carcinoma (38,39), when compared with their respective normal counterparts. Similarly, reduced expression of Galectin-3 has been reported in advanced histological grades of breast cancer (40,41).…”

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma in galectin‐3 knockout mice

“…As a matter of course, we have to consider the possibility that gal3 deficiency might contribute to tumorigenesis regardless of NASH. Previous reports have been contradictory: some studies reported that gal3 played an important role in cancer progression and metastasis, 60–63 whereas others suggested that it was downregulated in some cancers 64–68 . The role of gal3 in tumorigenesis remains controversial.…”

Galectins and urological cancer

“…The cDNA microarray and immunohistochemical experiments showed that the expression of galectin‐3 appeared to correlate with tumor indolence; being expressed predominantly in low‐grade conventional (clear cell) RCCs, indolent chromophobe RCCs, and benign oncocytomas [Young et al, 2001]. This finding is consistent with several studies showing reduced galectin‐3 expression in clinically aggressive tumors and may be relevant to the function of galectin‐3 as an adhesion molecule that inhibits metastasis [Idikio, 1998; Francois et al, 1999; Lurisci et al, 2000; Pacis et al, 2000]. Thus, galectins represent a family of molecules with a key role in RCCs progression.…”