Galectin-3在甲状腺结节中的表达

目的研究galectin-3在甲状腺结节中的表达.方法应用免疫组化及RT-PCR方法检测甲状腺标本中galectin-3表达.结果无论采用免疫组化或RT-PCR方法,甲状腺癌组织的galectin-3表达率均较高（阳性率为89.7%和91.7%）,不同类型的癌组织中有较大差异,其中乳头状癌和滤泡状腺癌具有较高水平的表达（阳性率100%）.有淋巴结转移者galectin-3表达水平高于无淋巴结转移者.在良性甲状腺结节及正常甲状腺组织,采用免疫组化方法检测的25份甲状腺腺瘤标本和13份结节性甲状腺肿标本仅3例呈阳性,余均为阴性,10份正常甲状腺组织及25份癌旁组织均未发现galectin-3表达.结论galectin-3可作为鉴别良、恶甲状腺疾病的一个较有价值的肿瘤指标.

The expression of galectin-3 in nodular thyroid goitre

Objective To investigate the expression of galectin-3 in benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods Galectin-3 expression was assayed with immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods in thyroid specimens. Results The majority of the specimens of thyroid carcinomas expressed galectin-3 with immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods(89.7% and 91.7%) and the expression was significantly in different histological types. Papillary and follicular thyroid malignancies showed high expression of galectin-3(100% positive). Comparing the specimens of thyroid carcinomas with metastases and those without metastases, the expression of galectin-3 was significantly higher in the former than in the latter. Among 25 specimens of benign adenomas and 13 specimens of nodular hyperplasia, only 3 were weakly positive and other were negative. Neither 10 specimens of normal thyroid tissue nor 25 specimens of paracarcinomatous thyroid tissue expressed galectin-3.Conclusion Galectin-3 may be used as a marker for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.