The Expression Of Galectin-3 In Meningiomas And Its Clinical Significance

Objective Meningiomas are common primary intracranial tumors. Most meningiomas are benign.Although they achieve a total resection, patients still have a recurrence. Through detecting expression of galectin -3 protein in normal brain tissue and in different levels'meningiomas , we discuss the relations between galectin-3 and meningioma occurrence, recurrence, and provide a theoretical basis for meningioma diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.Methods Sixty patients were collected in neurosurgery of Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 1998 to December 2004, who applied resection, pathologically confirmed as meningioma. Referring to the WHO grading standards[9], they were divided into benign meningioma group (WHOⅠlevel,36 cases) and atypical meningioma group (WHOⅡlevel, 15 cases), malignant meningioma group (WHOⅢlevel, 9 cases). And we also select 10 cases of normal brain tissues. Then we determine galectin-3 protein in normal brain tissues and pathological tissues by Immunohistochemical method, observe differences of galectin-3 expression in different categories, and apply statistical analysis.Results The expression of galectin-3 protein in 10 cases of normal brain tissues aren't positive, the expression of galectin-3 in atypical meningioma group was positive in 13 cases (87%), the expression of galectin-3 in atypical meningioma group was significantly higher than that in benign meningioma group (21 cases, 67%), the difference has statistics significance (Z =- 2.763, P <0.05); the expression of galectin-3 in malignant meningioma group meningioma group was positive in 9 cases (100%), the expression of galectin-3 in malignant meningioma group meningioma group was significantly higher than that in benign meningioma group, the difference has statistics significance (Z=-4.523, P<0.05); and the expression of galectin-3 in malignant meningioma group meningioma group was significantly higher than that in atypical meningioma group, the difference has statistics significance (Z=-2.998, P<0.05). The expression of galectin-3 in meningioma increases with meningioma's WHO pathological grade increased.Conclusion The expression of galectin-3 protein in meningioma pathology and tumor recurrence have a certain relationship, which are higher with the increase of meningioma's WHO pathological grade, that possibly played an important role in the occurrence and recurrence of meningiomas.