Galectin-8 up-regulation during hypopharyngeal and laryngeal tumor progression and comparison with galectin-1, -3 and -7.

AIM To define specific staining patterns for the adhesion/growth-regulatory lectin tandem-repeat-type galectin-8 in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal tumor progression and relate these parameters to galectins 1, 3 and 7 in the quest to explore the galectin network. MATERIALS AND METHODS The level of expression of galectin-8 was determined immunohistochemically in a series of 18 and 16 cases of tumor-free epithelium, 24 and 10 cases of low-grade dysplasia, 22 and 15 cases of high-grade dysplasia located in peri-tumoral area of 74 and 37 hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas. RESULTS Marked upregulation in galectin-8 staining intensity and immunopositive area in malignancy versus dysplasia was seen in hypopharyngeal cancer (p<10(-6)), in laryngeal cancer for labeling index and high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma (p<10(-6)). No correlation to recurrence was delineated. CONCLUSION The presented data revealed a divergence within the galectin-1, -3, -7 and -8 network during tumor progression.