Abstract
Aim: To define specific staining patterns for the adhesion/growth-regulatory lectin tandem-repeat-type galectin-8 in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal tumor progression and relate these parameters to galectins 1, 3 and 7 in the quest to explore the galectin network. Materials and Methods: The level of expression of galectin-8 was determined immunohistochemically in a series of 18 and 16 cases of tumor-free epithelium, 24 and 10 cases of low-grade dysplasia, 22 and 15 cases of high-grade dysplasia located in peri-tumoral area of 74 and 37 hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas. Results: Marked upregulation in galectin-8 staining intensity and immunopositive area in malignancy versus dysplasia was seen in hypopharyngeal cancer (p<10−6), in laryngeal cancer for labeling index and high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma (p<10−6). No correlation to recurrence was delineated. Conclusion: The presented data revealed a divergence within the galectin-1, -3, -7 and -8 network during tumor progression.
Footnotes
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↵* Christine Decaestecker is a Senior Research Associate with the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS, Brussels, Belgium).
- Received July 28, 2009.
- Revision received October 25, 2009.
- Accepted November 4, 2009.
- Copyright© 2009 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved