Galectin-3, a lectin-family protein that appears to be involved in malignant transformation, has been reported to be an accurate immunohistochemical marker for thyroid cancer.
However, for cancer prediction, analysis of a minimum of six genes per sample was necessary and allowed correct prediction of a benign thyroid lesion and thyroid cancer with 94% accuracy in the most discriminative set (TFF3/PLAB/TG/ADM3/HGD1/LGALS3).
In this review, the biological role of galectin-3 expression in thyroid cancer, the validation and translation to a clinical setting of a galectin-3 test method for the preoperative characterization of thyroid nodules and a galectin-3-based immuno-positron emission tomography (immuno-PET) imaging of thyroid cancer in vivo are presented and discussed.
Similar to other immune markers of HBME-1, galectin-3 and CK-19, protein expression levels of PIWIL2 was significantly up-regulated in both papillary and micropapillary thyroid cancers (p < 0.01).
Additionally, given its role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, galectin-3 targeting is currently under investigation for its potential utility as treatment for thyroid cancer.<b>Areas covered</b>: Recent studies of galectin-3 as a serum marker for thyroid cancer diagnosis, and in the preclinical setting as a target for cancer imaging and therapy.<b>Expert opinion</b>: Even though current studies evaluating galectin-3 as a serum marker and target for cancer imaging and therapy are promising, further research is required before it can be adopted into routine clinical use.