Galectin-3 as a potential biomarker in colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer incidence is inclining in the past decades, and diagnosis relies mainly on colonoscopic screening. Galectin-3 is recently shown to be associated with colorectal cancer. This study aimed to correlate serum galectin-3 levels with pathologically proven colorectal cancer.

All adult patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer in our institution from January to March 2013 were included in this prospective, observational study. During the same period, a control group with normal colonoscopic findings were included. After inclusion into the study, blood samples were collected from all participants. Serums obtained from the samples were stored at − 20 °C. Galectin-3 levels in blood samples were measured with an in vitro cantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Mean age was 62.7 years (range 29–85; standard deviation (SD): 14.8), mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.4 (21.4–42.4; SD: 4.5). Obesity (BMI ≤ 30), advanced age (≥55 years), and male gender were not significantly different among study groups (p > 0.05). In the colorectal cancer group mean galectin-3 levels were significantly elevated as compared to their control group counterparts (125.2 ± 19.1 vs. 23.0 ± 10.2, p < 0.001).

Galectin-3 levels were found significantly increased in colorectal cancer patients when compared with healthy controls. Further research is warranted to investigate the prognostic potential of galectin-3 in colorectal cancer.