The expression of galectin-3 in human bladder transitional-cell carcinomas and its significance

Objective:To investigate the relationship between galectin-3 expression and the biological behavior of human bladder transitional-cell carcinomas.Methods:The expression of Galectin-3 in 94 cases of bladder transitional-cell carcinomas and 10 normal urothelium samples were evaluated immunohistochemically.Results:①The expression levels of galectin-3 were increased in most tumors compared with normal urothelium,(P0.05).②The expression of Galectin-3 in poorly differentiated tumor was higher than that in well-differentiated cancer.③The expression of Galectin-3 in recurring tumor was higher than that in non-recurring tumor.Conclusions:①The galectin-3 could determine the degree of malignancy of human bladder transitional-cell carcinomas.②The bladder transitional-cell carcinomas that express higher level of galectin-3 recur easily.