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Galectin-3 expression in prostate cancer and benign prostate tissues: correlation with biochemical recurrence

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Abstract

Background

Galactin-3 is a cell adhesion molecule involved in tumor progression. Our aim was to examine Gal-3 expression in tumor, benign tissue adjacent to the tumor (adjacent-benign) and benign prostate specimens and correlated it with biochemical recurrence.

Materials and methods

Tissue microarrays were prepared from 83 tumor, 78 adjacent-benign and 75 benign tissues obtained from 83 patients undergoing prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Tissues were stained using a Gal-3 antibody and immunohistochemistry. The staining was graded between 0 and 300 depending upon staining intensity and the area of staining. In 37 patients on whom there was follow-up (Mean: 57.8 months; Median: 68 months), staining intensity was correlated with biochemical recurrence.

Results

Gal-3 showed both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization in benign, adjacent-benign and tumor tissues. Median Gal-3 staining scores significantly decreased from benign (192.5) to adjacent-benign (148.8 p = 0.007) and to tumor (108.8; p < 0.0001) tissues. In univariate analysis, age (p = 0.028), Gleason sum (p = 0.007), T stage (p = 0.011), seminal vesicle invasion (p = 0.009), pre-operative prostate-specific antigen (p = 0.045) and Gal-3 staining in tumor tissues (0.018) significantly correlated with biochemical recurrence. In multivariate analysis, Gal-3 expression in tumor (p = 0.04), adjacent-benign (p = 0.037) and benign (p = 0.005) tissues significantly correlated with biochemical recurrence. Gal-3 staining in tumor tissues had 91.7 % sensitivity, 64 % specificity and 73 % accuracy in predicting biochemical recurrence.

Conclusions

This is the first study that showed a decreasing gradient of Gal-3 expression in benign, adjacent-benign and tumor tissues. Gal-3 expression may be useful in predicting biochemical recurrence.

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Abbreviations

Gal-3:

Galactin-3

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

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Acknowledgments

Judith Knapp and Mario Kramer were supported by the International Academy of Life Sciences, Biomedical Science Exchange Program fellowship. Soum D Lokeshwar is a volunteer at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Diakonie Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    Judith S. Knapp

  2. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Soum D. Lokeshwar

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Ulrich Vogel

  4. Department of Urology and Urologic Oncology, Hannover Medical School, (MHH), Hannover, Germany

    Mario W. Kramer & Axel S. Merseburger

  5. Department of Urology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Jörg Hennenlotter, Christian Schwentner & Arnulf Stenzl

  6. Department of Urology and Urologic Oncology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Axel S. Merseburger

Authors
  1. Judith S. Knapp
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  2. Soum D. Lokeshwar
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  3. Ulrich Vogel
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  4. Jörg Hennenlotter
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  5. Christian Schwentner
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  6. Mario W. Kramer
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  7. Arnulf Stenzl
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  8. Axel S. Merseburger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judith S. Knapp.

Additional information

Judith S. Knapp and Soum D. Lokeshwar contributed equally to the manuscript.

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Knapp, J.S., Lokeshwar, S.D., Vogel, U. et al. Galectin-3 expression in prostate cancer and benign prostate tissues: correlation with biochemical recurrence. World J Urol 31, 351–358 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0925-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0925-y

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