Galectin-1 and galectin-3 expression in human bladder transitional-cell carcinomas

Galectin-1 and galectin-3 are galactoside-binding proteins involved in diff erent steps of tumor progression and potential targets for therapy. We have investigated the expression of these galectins in 38 human bladder transit ional-cell carcinomas of different histological grade and clinical stage an d in 5 normal urothelium samples. Galectin-1 mRNA levels were highly increa sed in most high-grade tumors compared with normal bladder or low-grade tum ors. Western blot and immuno-histochemical analysis of normal and neoplasti c tissues revealed a higher content of galectin-1 in tumors. Galectin-3 mRN A levels were also increased in most tumors compared with normal urothelium , but levels were comparable among tumors of different histological grade. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.