Clinical significance of the expression of galectin-3 and Pim-1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Because advanced-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx undergoes a generally poor hospital course, the prognostic significance of squamous cell carcinoma in the larynx was evaluated to identify those features associated with aggressive biologic behaviour according to the immunologic and histopathologic characteristics. Molecular prognostic and predictive factors have been extensively studied in different cancers over the past decades, and some of these factors were found to be useful in diagnosis, follow-up, or even treatment of some malignant tumours.

AIMS

To concretize the pathogenesis of malignant tumours in the larynx and to examine the possible prognostic factors related to malignancy.

METHODS

To assess the significance of galectin-3 and Pim-1 protein in laryngeal tumours and their correlation with prognostic factors, samples from 77 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were studied immunohistochemically. We examined the correlations of galectin-3 and Pim-1 protein expression according to tumour stage, nodal status, clinical stage, and histologic differentiation to investigate the clinical significance.

RESULTS

Squamous cell carcinoma showed increased galectin-3 and Pim-1 expression in the more advanced clinical stage, tumour stage, and nodal status.

CONCLUSIONS

The pathogenetic role of galectin-3 and Pim-1 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma indicates that galectin-3 and Pim-1 might be used as a possible prognostic factor.