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

Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jun 8;18(6):1230. doi: 10.3390/ijms18061230.

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.

Keywords: Galectin-1; Galectin-3; Galectin-7; ovarian cancer; overall survival.

MeSH terms

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

Substances

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