Association of galectin-3 and E-cadherin expressions with lymph node metastasis of colon cancer / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between the expressions of galectin-3 and E-cadherin and lymph node metastasis of colon cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was employed to examine the expressions of E-cadherin and galectin-3 in 37 colon cancer samples, among which 21 samples underwent RT-PCR for E-cadherin and galectin-3 mRNA expressions. The correlation of E-cadherin and galectin-3 expressions with lymph node metastasis of the tumor was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positivity rate of galectin-3 expression was 83.8% (31/37) in these samples. Of the tumor cases with lymph node metastasis, 94.7% (18/19) of the tumors were positive for galectin-3 expression, a rate significantly higher than that in non-metastatic cases. The positivity rate of E-cadherin expression was 59.5% (22/37) in the total cases, and 47.4% (9/19) in the metastatic cases, significantly lower than that in the non-metastatic cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Galectin-3 and E-cadherin expressions are associated with lymph node metastasis of colon cancer and may serve as potential prognostic indicators for colon cancer patients.</p>