Prognostic significance of serum galectin-3 levels in patients with hepatocellular cancer and chronic viral hepatitis

Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2015 Jan-Feb;21(1):47-50. doi: 10.4103/1319-3767.151228.

Abstract

Background/aim: Galectins affect diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes such as development, inflammation, and tumor growth. We aimed to compare serum galectin-3 levels in three patient groups with chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV), cirrhosis secondary to HBV or HCV, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to HBV or HCV and evaluate the role of galectin-3 during HCC progression.

Patients and methods: Nineteen patients with hepatocellular cancer, 22 patients with cirrhosis, and 24 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C were included in this study. Serum galectin-3 levels in different liver diseases were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The mean galectin-3 levels were 4.61 ng/mL (±2.32) in HCC patients, 5.68 ng/mL (±2,2) in cirrhotic patients, 1.98 ng/mL (±1.50) in chronic viral hepatitis group. There were no statistical differences between HCC and cirrhotic patients (P = 0.5), but lower in chronic hepatitis group statistically compared with cirrhosis and HCC (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). In case of cirrhotic patients, galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis secondary to HCV compared with HBV (P = 0.03). When we evaluated galectin-3 levels in HCC patients, it was found to be 3.92 ng/mL in HCC secondary to hepatitis B and 5.37 ng/mL in HCC secondary to hepatitis C.

Conclusion: Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic HBV or HCV may guide us about progression to cirrhosis or HCC and prognosis of the disease. Especially, galectin-3 levels may be more pronounced in case of HCV.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood*
  • Disease Progression
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Galectin 3 / blood*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / blood*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / blood*
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / blood*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Galectin 3