Prognostic Role of High Gal-9 Expression in Solid Tumours: a Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background/Aims: Recently, many studies have demonstrated that galectin-9 (Gal-9) exhibits altered expression and has a close association with metastasis and recurrence in various cancers. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic role of Gal-9 expression in solid tumours. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until June 2017 and identified fourteen eligible studies containing 2,408 patients to include in the meta-analysis. Results: The pooled results indicated that higher Gal-9 expression in cancer tissue associated with an improved CSS (HR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.58). In the subgroup analysis, a significant relationship was observed between higher Gal-9 expression and both CSS (HR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.59) and OS (HR=0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.78) in digestive cancers. Conclusions: The findings of this meta-analysis highlight the role of Gal-9 as a useful clinical prognostic biomarker, which may facilitate the treatment of patients with solid tumours.

Prognostic role of galectins expression in patients with hepatic cancer

“…Wang [20] suggested that galectin-3 plays an oncogenic role, and is expressed in colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer. In addition, Wang [21] reported that high galectin-9 expression in cancer tissue was correlated with improved CSS (cancer-specific survival) and weakly improved OS or DFS/RFS in cancer patients.…”

Galectins for Diagnosis and Prognostic Assessment of Human Diseases: An Overview of Meta-Analyses

“…Two different study groups conducted similar meta-analyses in 2018 to explore the association of galectin-9 expression with prognosis in patients with solid tumors [ 14 , 15 ]. However, their conclusions were a bit different.…”

“…However, their conclusions were a bit different. Wang K et al included 14 studies with 2408 patients up to June 2017, and demonstrated no significant association of high galectin-9 expression with OS (HR=0.80, P=0.311) or RFS/PFS (HR=0.58, P=0.097) in spite of its significant association with better CSS (HR=0.48, P<0.001) [ 14 ]. By contrast, Zhou X et al included 14 studies with 2326 patients up to October 2017, and reported a statistically significant association of high galectin-9 expression with better OS (HR=0.70, P=0.006), rather than DFS/RFS (HR=0.85, P=0.527) [ 15 ].…”

“…This difference between the two meta-analyses should be discussed. Although the meta-analysis by Wang K et al included fewer studies than that by Zhou X et al to explore the association of galectin-9 expression with OS (7 versus 12) [ 14 , 15 ], a further review of studies included in the two meta-analyses suggested that the meta-analysis by Wang K et al, rather than that by Zhou X et al, clearly distinguished CSS from OS. Considering a potential discrepancy between the two outcomes of interests, a conservative conclusion drawn by Wang K et al should be more reasonable.…”

Plasma Galectin-9 Concentrations in Normal and Diseased Condition

“…Contrary to this goal, Gal-9 demonstrates anti-cancer effects in several tumor-bearing mouse models by either inducing apoptosis of cancer cells or activating immune cells such as dendritic cells, NK cells, and cytotoxic T cells [3][4][5][6]. Several retrospective studies clarified the positive correlations between Gal-9 expression in cancer tissues and improved patient prognosis in various cancer types [7]. These observations are inconsistent with the well documented immune suppressive function of Gal-9 and have revealed that Gal-9 biology is complex and poorly understood.…”