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Determination of Galectin-3 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Overexpression in Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Endocrine, Diabetes, and Metabolism Service (V.J.B., Y.V., H.B.B.), Department of Clinical Investigation (J.A., B.S.), Department of Pathology (C.F.A.), Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20307; and Endocrinology Section (M.S., K.D.B., M.D.R.), Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Research Institute, Washington, D.C. 20010

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Victor J. Bernet, M.D., LTC, MC, USA, Assistant Chief, Endocrinology Service, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Service, 7D, 6900 Georgia Avenue Northwest, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20307-5001. E-mail: VICTOR.BERNET{at}NA.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL.

Abstract

Galectin-3, a lectin-family protein that appears to be involved in malignant transformation, has been reported to be an accurate immunohistochemical marker for thyroid cancer. However, immunohistochemistry is a subjective method that can be difficult to apply to cytologic specimens. Therefore, we sought to develop an objective and quantitative assay to measure galectin-3 mRNA in thyroid tissue to enhance potential clinical use of galectin-3 in the molecular analysis of thyroid nodules. In this study, total RNA from 37 snap-frozen thyroid tissue specimens was isolated from eight papillary and nine follicular thyroid cancers, six follicular adenomas, seven adenomatoid nodules, and seven normal thyroid lobes from patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Normalized levels of galectin-3 mRNA, expressed as picograms per nanogram GAPDH mRNA, were higher in papillary carcinomas (3327 pg/ng) and follicular adenomas (1314 pg/ng) than in thyroid normal tissue (426 pg/ng; P = 0.0012 and 0.032, respectively). Galectin-3 mRNA levels were also higher in papillary cancers than in adenomatoid nodules (P = 0.0012). However, galectin-3 mRNA levels were not statistically greater in follicular carcinomas than either normal tissue or follicular adenomas (P = 0.068 and 0.12, respectively). In summary, in comparison to galectin-3 immunohistochemistry, quantitative measurement of galectin-3 mRNA appears useful in the identification of papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs) but does not appear to be useful in distinguishing follicular carcinomas from follicular adenomas.

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