Galectin 1 expression is associated with tumor invasion and metastasis in stage IB to IIA cervical cancer

Galectin 1 is a 14-kd laminin-binding lectin involved in important biologic mechanisms of tumors, including neoplastic transformation, cell survival, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the role of galectin 1 in cell survival and metastasis in cervical cancer. The expression of galectin 1 was determined in 73 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cervical cancer tissues using an immunohistochemical method and compared with clinicopathologic risk factors for recurrence after surgery. To evaluate the role of galectin 1 in cell proliferation and invasion, we performed proliferation and invasion assays with galectin 1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) using cervical cancer cell lines, including HeLa and SiHa cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that galectin 1 expression was found in most peritumoral stroma samples (72/73; 98.6%). Galectin 1 expression was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion in the cervix (P=.015) and lymph node metastasis (P=.045) on univariate analysis. When progression-free survival of all of the patients studied was analyzed based upon galectin 1 expression, galectin 1 expression was not correlated with progression-free survival (P=.32). Down-regulation of galectin 1 using small interfering RNA resulted in the inhibition of cell growth and proliferation of HeLa and SiHa cells. Moreover, the ability of cells to invade was significantly reduced by galectin 1 small interfering RNA. Our results revealed that high galectin 1 expression in peritumoral stroma was significantly correlated with depth of invasion in cervical lesions and lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer and that galectin 1 may be functionally involved in cell proliferation and invasion.