Galectin-3在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及其意义

目的：检测Galectin-3在乳腺浸润性导管癌（IDC）中的表达情况，并探讨其在IDC进展过程中的意义。方法：应用组织芯片技术和免疫组织化学方法研究101例乳腺IDC和37例乳腺良性病变中Galectin-3的表达情况。并统计分析其与年龄、肿块最大径、组织学分级、TNM分期以及淋巴结转移间关系。结果：Ga—lectin-3在乳腺IDC和良性病变中的表达强度具有显著差异（P=0．000）。在IDC组，Galectin-3表达与淋巴结转移（rs=0．337，P=0．001）和TNM分期（0=0．269，P=0．007）呈正相关，而与年龄、肿瘤直径以及组织学分级无关。结论：Galectin-3表达水平在乳腺良、恶性病变中明显不同；Galectin-3高表达的乳腺IDC具有更高侵袭性和淋巴结转移能力；对Galectin-3作用机制的深入研究有可能使其成为乳腺IDC患者个体化治疗的新靶点。

Expression of Galectin-3 and its clinicopathological significance in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)of breast

Objective:To investigate the relationship between expression of Galectin-3 and clinicopathological findings in patients with IDC of breast.Methods:Immunohistochemical assessment of Galectin-3 expression was performed on a tissue microarray containing 101 IDC cases and 29 fibroadenoma cases,8 adenosis cases.Furthermore,their relationship with clinicopathological factors such as age,T stage,TNM stage,differentiation,lymph node metastasis and so on were considered from a statistical viewpoint.Results:Expression level of Galectin-3 protein(P=0.000) in benign and malignant breast lesions were significantly different.In 101 IDC samples,immunohistochemical staining against galectin-3 in 101 IDC specimens showed significant positive correlation between galectin-3 expression and axillary lymph node metastasis(rs=0.337,P=0.001) and TNM stage(rs=0.269,P=0.007),other than age,differentiation and T stage.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that expression intensity of Galectin-3 is different obviously in benign and malignant lesions of breast;High expression level of Galectin-3 suggests strong ability of invasion and metastasis.These results may lead to the development of a therapeutic modality aiming at abrogating Galectin-3 expression and thus hampering its activity during cancer progression and metastasis.