Prognostic significance of serum galectin-3 levels in patients with hepatocellular cancer and chronic viral hepatitis

Abstract

Background/Aim:Galectins affect diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes such as development, inflammation, and tumor growth. We aimed to compare serum galectin-3 levels in three patient groups with chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV), cirrhosis secondary to HBV or HCV, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to HBV or HCV and evaluate the role of galectin-3 during HCC progression.Patients and Methods:Nineteen patients with hepatocellular cancer, 22 patients with cirrhosis, and 24 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C were included in this study. Serum galectin-3 levels in different liver diseases were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:The mean galectin-3 levels were 4.61 ng/mL (±2.32) in HCC patients, 5.68 ng/mL (±2,2) in cirrhotic patients, 1.98 ng/mL (±1.50) in chronic viral hepatitis group. There were no statistical differences between HCC and cirrhotic patients (P = 0.5), but lower in chronic hepatitis group statistically compared with cirrhosis and HCC (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). In case of cirrhotic patients, galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis secondary to HCV compared with HBV (P = 0.03). When we evaluated galectin-3 levels in HCC patients, it was found to be 3.92 ng/mL in HCC secondary to hepatitis B and 5.37 ng/mL in HCC secondary to hepatitis C.Conclusion:Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic HBV or HCV may guide us about progression to cirrhosis or HCC and prognosis of the disease. Especially, galectin-3 levels may be more pronounced in case of HCV.

Association between circulating galectin-3 levels and the immunological, inflammatory and nutritional parameters in patients with colorectal cancer

“…Previous studies have revealed an elevated concentration of serum galectin-3 in various cancers, including breast (20), colorectal (21,22), stomach (23), lung (20), bladder (24), head and neck (25), liver (26), thyroid (27), pancreatic (28) and melanoma (29). These studies demonstrated higher amounts of galectin-3 in the sera of patients and its association with poorer prognosis.…”

Serum Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Liver Cirrhosis and Chronic Viral Hepatitis

“…Galectin-3 is the most extensively studied. Oncogenic and viral stimulation can change galectin-3 expression and galectin-3 increases in several human tumors (11) . Normal hepatocytes do not express galectin-3, but this protein can be present in HCC.…”

Circulating galectin-3 correlates with angiogenetic factors and indicators of systemic inflammation in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer

“…Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside binding lectin, is a moonlighting protein, implicated in cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, adhesion, malignant transformation, RNA processing, and angiogenesis [1][2][3][4][5] . Accumulating evidence has revealed an elevated concentration of serum galectin-3 in various cancers including breast 6) , colorectal 7,8) , stomach 9) , lung 6) , bladder 10) , head and neck 11) , liver 12) , thyroid 13) , pancreatic 14) , and melanoma 15) . These studies demonstrated higher amounts of galectin-3 in the sera of patients and/or its association with their prognosis.…”