Galectin-3 in urine of cancer patients: stage and tissue specificity

Purpose Galectin-3 has been implicated in advanced
stage of cancer disease. In the current study we examined
the possibility of urinary galectin-3 levels to stage cancer
disease and to follow up therapy.
Experimental design Urine was collected from all types of
cancer patients at diVerent stages including patients undergoing
radio/chemotherapy. Galectin-3 level was determined
by anti-galectin-3 based ELISA and agglutination assays.
Immunoblotting and puriWcation on lactosyl aYnity column
further conWrmed the presence of galectin-3.
Results Cancer samples exhibited stage dependent
expression of galectin-3 approx. ranging from 1.0 to 3.3,
4.4 to 5.4, 5.4 to 24.7, 13.1 to 31.9, 13.9 to 32.9 ng/mg C
(creatinine) for stage I–V, respectively, at P » <0.05 level.
Galectin-3 levels were decreased by approx. threefolds
after 5th day of therapy.
Conclusions Sample collection being simple and noninvasive,
urinary galectin-3 may be used as a potential
diagnostic tool for monitoring or follow up of the stage of
cancer disease.