The determination of the levels of circulating galectin-1 and -3 in HNSCC patients could be used to monitor tumor progression and/or responses to therapy

Summary To evaluate galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). ELISA was employed to test sera from 102 patients with HNSCCs and from 38 healthy control volunteers for galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels. Serum galec...

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Published in:Oral oncology 2008-01, Vol.44 (1), p.86-93
Main Authors: Saussez, Sven, Lorfevre, Francois, Lequeux, Thomas, Laurent, Guy, Chantrain, Gilbert, Vertongen, Francoise, Toubeau, Gérard, Decaestecker, Christine, Kiss, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers, Tumor - blood
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis
ELISA
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Feasibility Studies
Female
Galectin 1 - blood
Galectin 3 - blood
Galectins - blood
Galectins-1, -3, -7
Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis
Head cancer
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neck cancer
Otolaryngology
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Sensitivity and Specificity
Serum
Tumors
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Summary:Summary To evaluate galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). ELISA was employed to test sera from 102 patients with HNSCCs and from 38 healthy control volunteers for galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels. Serum galectin levels were assayed by ELISA and the levels of galectin expression in HNSCCs were determined by means of immunohistochemistry. HNSCCs display significant immunohistochemical amounts of galectin-7, but this galectin cannot be detected in the blood of HNSCC patients. Galectin-3 levels differ significantly ( p = 0.03) in healthy volunteers and HNSCC patients. Using a threshold value of 4.3 ng/ml, galectin-3 serum level enabled a significant level of discrimination ( p = 0.03) to be established between the cancer patients and the healthy volunteers, with 90% level of specificity and 36% level of sensitivity. The discrimination was even better when using a threshold value of 13.5 ng/ml for galectin-1 ( p = 0.001), with 100% level of specificity and 22% level of sensitivity. A subgroup of stage IV HNSCC patients displayed significantly reduced levels of circulating galectin-1 ( p = 0.003) and galectin-3 ( p = 0.001) after treatment as opposed to before. Galectin-3 concentrations in sera from the patients with a metastatic disease were significantly ( p = 0.01) higher than in sera from the patients with localized tumors. The determination of circulating levels of galectin-1 and -3 could be used to monitor the progression of their disease or their response to therapy.
ISSN:1368-8375
1879-0593
DOI:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2006.12.014