[Detection of galectin-3 in both serum and tissue for early diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the levels of galectin-3 in the serum and surgical specimens from patients with malignant and benign thyroid lesions and explore their clinical significance. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 159 patients with thyroid neoplasms and 16 normal subjects for detection of galectin-3 level using ELISA. The expressions of galectin-3 protein and mRNA were also detected in the surgical specimens by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Galectin-3 protein and mRNA were expressed at a rate of 96.67% in 66 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma, 83.33% in 6 cases of follicular thyroid carcinoma, 16.67% in 36 cases of papillary hyperplasia, and 11.74% in 51 cases of thyroid adenoma. The expression level of galectin-3 mRNA was slightly lower than but positively correlated with its protein expression. Patients with thyroid carcinoma had significantly higher serum concentration of galectin-3 than those with benign thyroid lesions (papillary hyperplasia and thyroid adenoma) and normal subjects (P<0.001). In patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, galectin-3 positivity in the tumor tissue was associated with a significantly higher serum galectin-3 level in comparison with the negative cases (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Detection of galectin-3 in both the serum and surgical specimens can improve the diagnosis rate of thyroid carcinoma.