Open AccessSerum galectin‐3 as a biomarker for screening, early diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic effect evaluation of pancreatic cancer
Author(s) -
Yi Nan,
Zhao Xuying,
Ji Jie,
Xu Minxue,
Jiao Yujie,
Qian Tianyang,
Zhu Shengze,
Jiang Feng,
Chen Jianhua,
Xiao Mingbing
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.15775
Subject(s) - medicine , pancreatic cancer , galectin 3 , biomarker , oncology , cancer , metastasis , gastroenterology , angiogenesis , biology , biochemistry
Galectin‐3 plays an important role in cell‐cell adhesion, macrophage activation, angiogenesis, metastasis and apoptosis and is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. We explored the importance of galectin‐3 in the screening, early diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic effect evaluation of pancreatic cancer. A time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay was performed to detect serum galectin‐3 level. Serum samples were collected from healthy controls and patients with pancreatic cancer before and after different treatments, and the relationships between galectin‐3 level and clinical parameters were analysed. Among the healthy controls, one individual with an abnormally high concentration of galectin‐3 (9.85 μg/L) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Compared to the pre‐operative level, galectin‐3 concentration significantly decreased in patients with radical excision 1 month after surgery ( P < .05), but showed no obvious change in patients who underwent palliative resection. Additionally, among patients with radical excision, carcinoma recurrence rate was significantly higher in those with increased or unchanged galectin‐3 level. Retrospective analysis revealed the extraordinarily high value and high specificity of galectin‐3 for predicting 3‐year survival ( P < .001). Thus, galectin‐3 may serve as a potential biomarker for the screening and early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and as an independent prognostic indicator in patients with pancreatic cancer.