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Galectin-3 expression: a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors in children

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Abstract

Objective

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a glycan-binding protein highly expressed in several tumors, including brain neoplasms. This protein has been demonstrated to be correlated with adverse prognosis in some tumor types. However, the role of Gal-3 in pediatric posterior fossa tumors (PPFTs) has not yet been fully addressed. The goals of this study were to evaluate Gal-3 expression in a series of PPFTs and verify whether this expression is related to patient outcome.

Material and methods

Gal-3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 42 cases of surgically resected primary PPFTs. Surgeries were performed in our institution from January 2003 to December 2006. Tumor samples consisted of 21 pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs), 13 medulloblastomas, 4 ependymomas, 2 diffuse cerebellar astrocytomas, and 2 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs).

Results

All PAs and ependymomas strongly showed Gal-3 expression, whereas no immunostaining was observed in medulloblastomas and diffuse astrocytomas. In AT/RTs, Gal-3 expression was conspicuous but heterogeneous, being mainly observed in rhabdoid cells. Concerning the Gal-3 expressing tumors, no relationship was observed between the degree of expression and patient survival. Gal-3 was strongly expressed in reactive astrocytes, normal endothelial cells, and macrophages in the adjacent non-neoplastic brain parenchyma. Interestingly, the endothelial cells in the tumor bulk of PAs lacked Gal-3 expression.

Conclusions

Gal-3 is differentially expressed in PPFTs, but its expression shows no correlation with patient outcome. However, the evaluation of Gal-3 is helpful in establishing a differential diagnosis among PPFTs, especially between PAs and diffuse astrocytomas, and in some circumstances between medulloblastomas and AT/RTs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank FAPESP, Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, for grant support (Proc. No. 2009/08497-6; 2006/60642-2) and Deise C. Simoes for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    Carolina Bisinoto Borges, Emerson Soares Bernardes & Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira

  2. Department of Pathology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    Élder Francisco Latorraca, Aline Paixão Becker & Luciano Neder

  3. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Campus Universitário, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    Hélio Rubens Machado & Ricardo Santos de Oliveira

  4. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Roger Chammas

Authors
  1. Carolina Bisinoto Borges
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  2. Emerson Soares Bernardes
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  3. Élder Francisco Latorraca
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  4. Aline Paixão Becker
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  5. Luciano Neder
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  6. Roger Chammas
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  7. Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
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  8. Hélio Rubens Machado
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  9. Ricardo Santos de Oliveira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricardo Santos de Oliveira.

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Borges, C.B., Bernardes, E.S., Latorraca, É.F. et al. Galectin-3 expression: a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors in children. Childs Nerv Syst 27, 253–257 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-010-1262-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-010-1262-3

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