Expressions of galectin-3 (gal-3) and sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) and their clinicopathological significances in benign and malignant lesions of the gallbladder / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the expressive levels of galectin-3 (gal-3) and sambucus nigra agglutinin(SNA) and to detect their clinicopathological significances in benign and malignant lesions of the gallbladder. Methods EnVisonTM Immunohistochemistry for assaying gal-3 expressive levels and ABC cytochemistry for determining SNA expressive levels were used in conventional paraffin-embedded sections from the specimens of adenocarcinoma (n = 108) , peritumoral tissues (n=46) . Adenomatous polyp (n=15), and chronic cholecystitis (n = 35). Results The positive rates of gal-3 and SNA were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma (62. 0%, 66. 7%) than in peritumoral tissues (39. 1%,45.6%), adenomatous polyp (26.7%, 33.3%) and chronic cholecystitis (11.4%, 11.4%)(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). The positive gal-3 and SNA in benign cases showed atypical hyperplasia of the epthelium. The positive rates of gal-3 and SNA expression were significantly lower in well-differentiated adenocarcioma, mass with a maximal diameter of <2 cm, absence of lymph node metastasis,and absence of invasion to adjacent tissues than in poor-differentiated adenocarcinoma, mass with a maximal diameter of ≥2 cm, lymph node metastasis and invasion to adjacent tissues. (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). There was a significant correlation between the expressive levels of gal-3 and SNA in gallbladder adenocarcinoma (x2=9. 51, P<0. 01). Conclusions The expressive levels of gal-3 and SNA lectins had important effects on carcinogenesis, progression and biologic behaviors of gallbladder cancer. Patients with positive gal-3 and /or SNA expressions had poor prognosis.