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Increased expression and altered intracellular distribution of adhesion/growth‐regulatory lectins galectins‐1 and ‐7 during tumour progression in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas
Author(s) -
Saussez S,
Decaestecker C,
Lorfevre F,
Chevalier D,
Mortuaire G,
Kaltner H,
André S,
Toubeau G,
Gabius HJ,
Leroy X
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.02973.x
Subject(s) - galectin , immunohistochemistry , cytoplasm , pathology , galectin 3 , biology , dysplasia , cell , cancer research , medicine , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Aims: To examine the level of expression of the pleiotropic regulators galectins‐1 and ‐7 in relation to neoplastic progression of hypopharyngeal (HSCCs) and laryngeal (LSCC s ) squamous cell carcinomas. Methods and results: The presence of galectins‐1 and ‐7 was investigated using quantitative immunohistochemistry in (i) a series of 78 HSCCs by comparison with 17 normal epithelia (N_E), 26 low‐grade dysplasia (low_D) and 27 high‐grade dysplasia (high_D) and (ii) a series of 56 LSCCs by comparison with 50 N_E, 23 low_D and 29 high_D. Galectin‐1 positivity expressed as a percentage of cells was significantly higher in carcinomas (HSCCs and LSCCs) than in N_E, low _ D or high _ D ( P < 10 −6 ). Galectin‐7 expression was elevated in low _ D ( P = 0.0004) compared with N_E and in carcinomas (HSCC) compared with high _ D ( P = 0.0002). Tumour progression from high_D to carcinomas was associated with a shift of galectin‐1 localization from the nucleus towards the cytoplasm. Increased expression of galectin‐7 in dysplasias was accompanied by a shift from the cytoplasmic compartment (N_E) to the nucleus (low_D and high_D). Conclusions: Our data reveal an association between the level of presence of galectins‐1 and ‐7 and neoplastic progression of HSCCs and LSCCs. Moreover, inverse shifts between nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity intimating functional divergence were detected.