Abstract
Backgroundgalectin-1 has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis and is frequently over-expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but its potential as a biomarker remains unclear. In this novel study, we have explored the possible use of galectin-1 as a biomarker for EOC.Methodsgalectin-1 in sera was evaluated by ELISA in a pilot panel of EOC patients, healthy volunteers, patients with benign gynecologic tumors or other gynecologic malignancies. We examined galectin-1 expression in EOC tumor samples by Western Blot, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. In vitro experiments were conducted to elucidate the biologic role of galectin-1 in EOC progression using over-expression of galectin-1 in OVCAR-3 cells. We also looked for the association of galectin-1 expression with clinic pathological variables and survival outcomes in EOC.ResultsA significant difference was detected in serum galectin-1 between EOC patients with non-metastatic and those with metastatic disease, but not between EOC patients and healthy volunteers. It increased in recurrent cases and decreased after debulking surgery. Both of galectin-1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in 90 % of the examined EOC tissue samples, compared with a wedge resection of a normal ovary. High galectin-1 in peritumor stroma was primarily detected in advanced stages of EOC. Over expression of galectin-1 significantly increased the ability of OVCAR-3 cells’ migration and invasion.ConclusionsOur results suggest that galectin-1 might play a role in tumor progression and be associated with poor outcome in EOC. It could be a novel prognostic and progression biomarker in EOC patients.
Highlights
Ovarian cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies in more developed areas, and the second in less developed areas [1]
There was no significant difference between serum galectin-1 levels and age, menopausal status or blood type
Cancer cells and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) in culture release galectin-1 proteins In order to test the possibility that galectin-1 may be released from cancer cells and CAF, we looked for the EOC epithelial ovarian cancer galectin-1 is involved in EOC cell migration and invasion in vitro To elucidate the role of galectin-1 in EOC progression, pIRES2-ZsGreen1 vector was used to increase galectin-1 expression in OVCAR-3 cells which have no galectin-1 protein expression (Fig. 2d)
Summary
Ovarian cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies in more developed areas, and the second in less developed areas [1]. Increased galectin-1 expression has been correlated with the metastatic potential of several tumorigenic cells, possibly by affecting cell motility and invasion of extracellular matrices [15, 21,22,23]. It is detected in neighboring cancer associated fibroblasts [CAFs express α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which can be as a CAF marker] and cancer stroma as reported in the primary prostate cancer by Van den Brule and Berberat PO [24, 25]. Its potential as prognostic, diagnostic, or detection marker remains unclear
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