Yamaoka et al. were the first to suggest a role for galectin-1 in
glioma biology [19]. Northern blot analysis of galectin-1 mRNAexpression
levels in different glioma specimens and glioma cell
lines revealed a positive correlation between galectin-1 expression
and the malignant state of astrocytomas. However, no statistical
analysis was undertaken. These results were confirmed in two
recent articles where computer-assisted microscopy was used to
quantitatively determine the immunohistochemical expression of
galectin-1 in glioma [20,21]. Galectin-1 was expressed in all types of
human glioma, with no striking variations in the level of expression
among astrocytic, oligodendroglial and ependymal tumors.
A positive correlation was only found in astrocytomas between
the expression levels of galectin-1 and the grade of malignancy.
More relevant from a clinical perspective, is that expression of
galectin-1 in high-grade astrocytic tumors from patients with
short-term survival periods was significantly higher than those
in tumors from patients with long-term survival