Expression Of Galectin-1in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Tongue And Its Correlation With Clinicopathological Parameters

OBJECTIVE:Gal-1is a β-galactose-binding lectin and overexpressed in different human tumors. This study was aimed to investigate the expression of Gal-1in TSCC and its correlation with different clinical pathological paramerers and search a new target for clinical treatment of TSCC.METHODS:1.36paraffin embedded specimens of TSCC and surgical margin of tongue were collected from patients who underwent surgery in Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Qilu Hospital Shandong University from2008to2010.2. Examine the expression of Gal-1and the degree of leukomonocyte infiltration in cancers and normal tissues by the immunohistochemistrical method.The results were statistically analyzed.3. The relationship between Gal-1expression and clinicopathological parameters was statistically analyzed.RESULTS:1. The positive reaction was predominately located in tumor cells and associative stromal cells significantly compared with that in the normal tissues.The expression of Gal-1was mainly located in the cytoplasm, partly located in karyon and cytomembrane.2.There was no statistical significant between the Gal-1expression and clinical status,such as smoking (P=0.159), drinking (P=0.723), age (P=0.175), sex trait (P=0.260), location of tumor (P=0.468), size of tumor (P=0.465)3. There was significantly correlation between the protein expression of Gal-1in TSCC of36cases and TNM stage, depth of tumor invasion, differentiation and lymph node metastasis.4.The level of Gal-1expression in Ⅲ/Ⅳ patients increased significantly compared with that in Ⅰ/Ⅱ patients, P=0.002.5.The level of Gal-1expression in leukomonocyte infiltration Ⅱ°is significantly increased than in leukomonocyte infiltration Ⅰ°, P=0.025.6.The level of Gal-1expression in lymph node metastasis (pNl)is significantly higher than in non lymph node metastasis (pN0), P=0.033.7. The correlation between the risk of Lymphocyte node metastasis and clinicopathological parameters In TSCC, the expression of Gal-1protein and the histological difference were the risk of Lymphocyte node metastasis (P<0.05), but no correlation between the risk of Lymphocyte node metastasis and age, sex trait, size of tumor (P>0.05)CONCLUSION:The Gal-1is overexpressed in TSCC on protein level, which may be related to tumorigenesis. Meanwhile, the expression of Gal-1correlates with depth of tumor invasion, differentiation and lymph node metastasis, which suggests that Gal-1plays an important role in metastasis and invasion of TSCC. Gal-1might be used as an ideal target therapy for TSCC.