Galectin-3 labeling correlates positively in tumor cells and negatively in endothelial cells with malignancy and poor prognosis in oligodendroglioma patients.

Background: Galectin-3 modulates cell growth, transformation and metastasis in a wide range of neoplasms.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed galectin-3 expression in a total of 69 oligodendroglioma tissue samples by immunocytochemistry double labeling and RT-PCR experiments.

Results: Galectin-3 expression was observed in oligodendrocytes, endothelial cells and macrophages/microglial cells in areas of solid tumor growth. Significantly fewer galectin-3+ oligodendroglioma cells and macrophages/microglial cells were detected in WHO grade II oligodendrogliomas than in their matched relapses and in WHO grade III anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. Inversely, significantly more galectin-3+ endothelial cells were detected in WHO grade II oligodendrogliomas than in their matched relapses and in WHO grade III anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. Patients with low endothelial galectin-3 labeling scores in primary oligodendrogliomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas had significantly shorter time to progression and overall survival than patients with high endothelial galectin-3 labeling scores.

Conclusion: We conclude from these data that the cell-type specific expression of galectin-3 is differentially involved in oligodendroglioma pathology.