doiSerbia

Differential expression of Galectin-3 in papillary projections of malignant and non-malignant hyperplastic thyroid lesions

Cvejić Dubravka S. (Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy - INEP, University of Belgrade, Zemun - Belgrade)
Savin-Žegarac Svetlana B. (Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy - INEP, University of Belgrade, Zemun - Belgrade)
Petrović Ivana M. (Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy - INEP, University of Belgrade, Zemun - Belgrade)
Paunović Ivan R. (Center for Endocrine Surgery, Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade)
Tatić Svetislav B. (Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro)
Havelka Marija J. (Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro)

Galectin-3 is a a beta-galactoside binding protein recently proposed to be a promising presurgical molecular marker for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid neoplasms. We analyzed galectin-3 expression immunohistochemically in papillary areas of hyperplastic lesions of benign thyroid tissue in comparison with malignant papillary projections of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A monoclonal antibody to galectin-3 and ABC immunohistochemical technique were used to evaluate galectin-3 expression in 26 cases of benign papillary hyperplasia (8 cases of hyperplastic adenoma, 8 cases of hyperplastic colloid goiter, 10 cases of Graves disease) in comparison with 25 cases of PTC. Immunohistochemical results showed no reactivity for galectin-3 in papillary areas of benign hyperplastic lesions. Strong cytoplasmic galectin-3 immunoreactivity was found in all 25 cases of PTC. These results show that galectin-3 expression is a feature of malignant papillary projections but not of benign papillary hyperplasia. Thus, the immunohistochemical evaluation of galectin-3 might contribute to differential diagnosis between malignant and benign thyroid lesions with papillary projections.

Keywords: galectin-3, papillary thyroid carcinoma, benign papillary hyperplasia, presurgical tumor marker, immunohistochemistry