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

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. Urine was collected from all types of cancer patients at different stages including patients undergoing radio/chemotherapy. Galectin-3 level was determined by anti-galectin-3 based ELISA and agglutination assays. Immunoblotting and purification on lactosyl affinity column further confirmed the presence of galectin-3. 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. Sample collection being simple and non-invasive, urinary galectin-3 may be used as a potential diagnostic tool for monitoring or follow up of the stage of cancer disease.