Gene-expression signature of adhesion/growth-regulatory tissue lectins (galectins) in transitional cell cancer and its prognostic relevance

  1. S Langbein1,2,
  2. J Brade3,
  3. J K Badawi2,
  4. M Hatzinger2,
  5. H Kaltner4,
  6. M Lensch4,
  7. K Specht2,
  8. S André4,
  9. U Brinck5,
  10. P Alken2,
  11. H-J Gabius4

Article first published online: 9 OCT 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02852.x

Issue

Histopathology

Histopathology

Volume 51, Issue 5, pages 681–690, November 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Langbein, S., Brade, J., Badawi, J. K., Hatzinger, M., Kaltner, H., Lensch, M., Specht, K., André, S., Brinck, U., Alken, P. and Gabius, H.-J. (2007), Gene-expression signature of adhesion/growth-regulatory tissue lectins (galectins) in transitional cell cancer and its prognostic relevance. Histopathology, 51: 681–690. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02852.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Urology, Academic Medic Centrum, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  2. 2

    Department of Urology, University Hospital Mannheim, Faculty of Medicine, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany

  3. 3

    Department of Biostatistics, University Hospital Mannheim, Faculty of Medicine, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany

  4. 4

    Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

  5. 5

    Institute of Pathology, Reinhard Nieter Hospital, Academic Hospital of the University Göttingen, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

*S Langbein MD, Department of Urology, Academic Medic Centrum (AMC) G4, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands. e-mail: s.i.langbein@amc.uva.nl, sigrun.langbein@web.de

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 OCT 2007
  2. Article first published online: 9 OCT 2007
  3. Date of submission 8 January 2007 Accepted for publication 12 June 2007

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (1657K)

Keywords:

  • apoptosis;
  • bladder cancer;
  • cell adhesion;
  • galectins;
  • lectins;
  • progression;
  • urothelial cancer

Aims:  Lectins, and especially galectins, appear to be important in malignancy-associated processes. The aim was to analyse comprehensively the presence of galectins in urothelial tumours.

Methods and results:  Non-cross-reactive antibodies against seven family members from the three subgroups (prototype: galectin-1, -2 and -7; chimera type: galectin-3; tandem-repeat type: galectin-4, -8 and -9) were used. Gene expression was monitored in specimens of normal urothelium, fresh tumour tissue and cell lines by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence and evidence of tumour-associated up-regulation were shown for galectin-1 and -3. This was less clear-cut for galectin-4 and -8. Galectin-7 was expressed in all cell lines; galectin-2 and -9 were detected at comparatively low levels. Galectin-2, -3 and -8 up-regulation was observed in superficial tumours, but not in muscle-invasive tumours (P < 0.05). Immunoreactivity correlated with tumour grading for galectin-1, -2 and -8, and disease-dependent mortality correlated with galectin-2 and -8 expression. Binding sites were visualized using labelled galectins.

Conclusions:  The results demonstrate a complex expression pattern of the galectin network in urothelial carcinomas. Galectin-1, -2, -3 and -8 are both potential disease markers and also possible targets for bladder cancer therapy.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (1657K)