Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1996-8-23
pubmed:abstractText
Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding lectin family, is involved in several biological events including binding to the basement membrane glycoprotein laminin. Although the exact role of galectin-3 during the interactions between cells and laminin is not yet known, it has recently been observed that its expression is down-regulated at both the protein and the mRNA level in colon cancer tissues in correlation with progression of the disease. This study investigated the possibility that breast cancer cells might also exhibit decreased galectin-3 expression in association with their aggressiveness. The expression of galectin-3 was examined by immunoperoxidase staining, using a polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant galectin-3, in a collection of 98 human breast lesions including 12 fibroadenomas, 15 fibrocystic disease lesions, 22 in situ carcinomas, and 49 infiltrating ductal carcinomas, 19 of which had positive axillary lymph nodes. Normal breast tissue adjacent to the lesions was present in 59 biopsies. Normal breast tissue expressed high levels (3+) of galectin-3. High expression (2+ to 3+) was also found in most benign lesions examined. The expression of galectin-3 was significantly decreased in in situ carcinoma and this down-regulation was more pronounced in invasive ductal carcinoma, particularly when associated with infiltration of axillary lymph nodes. These data constitute the first observation that galectin-3 is down-regulated in breast cancer and suggest the decreased expression of this galactoside-binding lectin is associated with the acquisition of the invasive and metastatic phenotype.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0022-3417
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
179
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
43-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Decreased expression of galectin-3 is associated with progression of human breast cancer.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't