The use of a combination of galectin-3 and thyroid peroxidase for the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid cancer

In this retrospective histologic study, galectin-3 had a sensitivity of 92% (22124) for papillary thyroid carcinoma and 44% (419)for follicular thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) had a sensitivity of 50% (12124) for papillary and 11% (1/11) jbr follicular carcinoma. The combination of galectin-3 and TPO had a sensitivity of 96% (23124) for papillary and 44% (419) for follicular carcinoma. From a prognostic standpoint, of patients whose papillary carcinomas expressed both markers, all became free of disease. Of those whose papillary carcinomas expressed galectin-3 but not TPO, 57% (417) became free of disease, 29% (217) had persistent disease, and 14% (1/7) had progressive disease. This study confirms previous observations that galectin-3 alone is highly sensitive for papillary carcinoma but not adequately sensitive,for follicular carcinoma. TPO alone is not adequately sensitive for the evaluation of any thyroid lesion. The combination of galectin-3 and TPO is complementary as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients with papillary carcinoma.