Abstract:Objective:To study the expression of galectin-3 in liver metastasis from colon cancer and its inhibition by modified citrus pectin（MCP）in mice.
Methods :Seventy-five Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: negative control group, positive control group，low concentration MCP group, middle concentration MCP group and high concentration MCP group. CT-26 colon cancer cells were injected into the subcapsule of spleen in mice to establish a colon cancer liver metastasis model, but ont in the negative group. The concentration of MCP in drinking water was 0.0%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0%(w/v) in 4 cancer model groups respectively. Liver metastasis was observed after 3 weeks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of Galectin-3 in serum, and tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression of Galectin-3 in liver metastasis.
Results:(1) Except in the negative control groups, the median volume of splenic primary lesions in each group was 1.51 cm3、0.93 cm3、0.77 cm3 and 0.70 cm3 respectively.The volume in middle and high concentration MCP groups were significantly smaller than that in positive control group (both P＜0.05).(2)Except in the negative group, the percentage of liver metastasis in each group was 100%, 80%, 73.3% and 60% respectively. The number of liver metastases in high concentration MCP groups was significantly fewer than in positive control group(P＜0.05). (3)The concentration of galectin-3 in serum in positive control group and MCP-treatment groups was significantly higher than in the negative groups (P＜0.01). But between the positive control group and MCP-treatment groups, there was no significant difference (all P＞0.05).(4) Except in the negative groups, the expression of galectin-3 in liver metastases in each group showed no significant difference (all P＞0.05).
Conclusions:The expression of galetin-3 was obviously increased in liver metastasis from colon cancer, and MCP can effectively inhibit the development of liver metastasis of colon cancer.