Correlations of <b><i>Galectin-3</i></b> Gene Polymorphisms with Risk and Prognosis of Cervical Cancer in Chinese Populations: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: This study explores correlations of galectin-3 gene polymorphisms (rs4644, rs4652, and rs11125) with cervical cancer risk and prognosis in Chinese populations. Methods: A total of 126 patients with cervical cancer were selected to form the case group, and 102 healthy people were selected for the control group following a physical examination. 3 polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The distribution frequencies of the CC+CA genotype of rs4652 and the AT+TT genotype of rs11125 in the case group were remarkably higher than those in the control group. rs4644 only had correlations with tumor diameter, while rs4652 and rs11125 had correlations with tumor diameter, FIGO staging, differentiation grades, clinical staging, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and treatment modality. The 5-years survival rate of patients with CC+CA of rs4652 was lower but the recurrence rate was higher compared to AA type patients. In contrast, AA type patients with rs11125 had a higher 5-year survival rate but a lower recurrence rate than those of AT+TT type. CC+CA genotype of rs4652, AT+TT genotype of rs11125, and treatment modality were independent factors related to overall survival and disease-free survival, and LNM was an independent factor related to OS. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that allele C of rs4652 and allele T of rs11125 in the galectin-3 gene may be risk factors for cervical cancer.

Galectin-3 and cancer stemness

“…The presence of a SNP (rs4644) in the galectin-3 gene, a substitution of Proline 64 with Histidine, results in cells with increased chemotaxis, chemo-invasion, angiogenesis, apoptosis resistance in vitro, tumor formation in vivo and an increased susceptibility to breast cancer (Nangia-Makker et al 2007;Balan et al 2008). Subsequent studies reported an association of this SNP to prostate cancer and cervical cancer susceptibility (Meyer, 2013, Fang, 2017, rheumatoid arthritis (Hu, 2011) and drug resistance (Mazurek, 2011) via β-catenin pathway. It would be interesting to establish whether galectin-3 germline mutation is associated with cancer stemness.…”

The Role of Galectins in Tumor Progression, Treatment and Prognosis of Gynecological Cancers

“…Galectin-3 positive expression in cervical cancer patients with very low or negative levels of p16 (onco-protein, used as a HPV marker), was also found to be correlated with poor prognosis in OS analyses 52. Additionally, the comprehensive case control investigation of galectin-3 gene polymorphisms (rs4644, rs4652 and rs11125) demonstrated a positive prognostic correlation in Chinese cervical cancer patients 53. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism detected significantly increased distribution of the CC+CA genotype of rs4652 and AT+TT genotype of rs11125 in the cervical cancer group compared with healthy control.…”

The role of galectin-3 and its genetic variants in tumor risk and survival of patients with surgically resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

“…[22] However, we did not analyze the response to chemotherapy of our patients, since all patients underwent resection surgery. Regarding the possible roles of rs4644 and rs4652 variants in the incidence of several cancer types, [13][14][15][16][17] the sample size of the present study could be enlarged to reach statistical significance for the genotype and allele distribution between the patients and controls.…”

“…[ 15 ] Besides, rs4652 variant was thought to contribute to the susceptibility and chemotherapeutic drug resistance in gastric carcinoma. [ 16 ] Recently, Fang et al[ 17 ] recorded that allele C of rs4652 variant might be risk factor for cervical cancer.…”