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Updated: May 3, 2026
Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
[Expression and prognostic significance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in benign nevi and melanomas]
Zhong-wu Li1, Yan Wang, Wei-cheng Xue
1Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Objective:
To study the expression and prognostic significance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in different melanocytic lesions.
Methods:
The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in 39 cases of benign nevus, 58 cases of primary cutaneous melanoma, 24 cases of primary mucosal melanoma, 69 cases of melanoma with lymph node metastasis and 8 cases of melanoma with distant metastasis were studied by immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray.
Results:
The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 was higher in benign nevi than in melanomas (P < 0.01). The nuclear expression of galectin-3 was higher in primary cutaneous melanomas than in primary mucosal melanomas or melanomas with metastases (P < 0.01, respectively). The expression correlated with age of patients (P < 0.05), necrosis (P < 0.05) and survival time (P < 0.01). Clark's level also correlated with survival time in patients with cutaneous melanomas (P = 0.037). TNM staging was the only independent prognostic factor for melanomas (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
The expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 is decreased in melanomas. The decrease in nuclear expression of galectin-3 may represent a poor prognostic factor for melanomas. TNM staging is an independent prognostic factor which influences the survival time.
