Abstract:Objective To explore the expression of Galectin3 in thyroid lesions and its value in differentiating benign from malignant lesions.
Methods Galectin3 protein expression in 99 cases of thyroid lesions was studied by streptavidin/peroxidase(SP) immunohistochemistry technique. Results Fiftynine of the 67(88.1%) cases of thyroid carcinomas (22/24 follicular carcinomas, 24/27 papillary carcinomas, 10/12 medullary carcinomas and 3/4 anaplastic carcinomas) showed cytoplasmic immunohistochemical staining of Galectin3, which was diffuse. As to the group of adenomas(n=19), only 3 cases were focally and weakly positive. There was no Galectin3 expression in 13 cases of thyroid papillary hyperplasia. There was significant difference between the expression of Galectin3 in malignant thyroid tumors and that in benign lesions(P<0.01), and no difference between the four histological types of thuroid cnacer(P>0.05). Conclusions Galectin3 may be useful in the diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas, and it can be regarded as a valuable molecular marker to distinguish benign from malignant lesions.