Identification of galectin-3 and mucin-type O-glycans in breast cancer and its metastasis to brain.

Galectin-3 has been implicated in tumor progression. We demonstrated immunohistochemically that galectin-3 was negative in normal breast tissue, but it was highly increased in breast cancer and in metastatic tissues to brain. Similarly, histochemistry with mucin-specific lectins showed increased recognition in breast tumor and metastasis with Machaerocereus eruca agglutinin (Fualpha 1,2 (GalNAcalpha 1,3) Galss1,4 in complex mucin) but not for Amaranthus leucocarpus (Galss1,3-GalNAc-alpha 1,0-Ser/Thr) and Arachis hypogaea lectins (Galss1,3GalNAc/Galss1,4GlcNAc). Mucin-type glycans and galectin-3 colocalized in breast cancer and metastasis, but not in normal tissue, suggesting upregulated biosynthesis of complex O-glycosidically linked glycans and galectin-3 favor breast cancer progression and brain metastasis.