Galectin labeling of cells from paraffinized tissues may serve as a diagnostic tool in the detection and classification of thyroid carcinomas.

This study seeks to determine whether the relative levels of attachment to galectins 1 and 3 of cells from thyroid tissues embedded in paraffin blocks can differentiate thyroid tumors from normal tissues. A total of 48 thyroid paraffin sample blocks from 4 groups of patients were analyzed: 12 samples served as controls, 12 samples were from patients with thyroid adenoma, 12 samples were from patients with thyroid follicular carcinoma, and 12 samples were from patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma. The relative attachment of cells to galectins 1 and 3 antigens was determined using the InnoCyte™ ECM Cell Adhesion kit at different cell sample concentrations. All of the samples from thyroid tissue preparations showed attachment to galectins 1 and 3. The samples from tissues with a diagnosis of adenoma, follicular and papillary carcinoma showed an increased adherence to galectins 1 and 3 relative to the controls. Significant differences were found between the means of the adherent cells from the adenomas compared with the follicular and papillary carcinoma samples. When the outcomes from the galectins 1 and 3 cell surface binding were compared, no statistical differences were found. The cells from adenoma and carcinoma samples show more adhesion to galectins 1 and 3 than cells from the control samples. The samples prepared from follicular and papillary carcinomas show more cells adherent to galectins 1 and 3 than those from the adenomas.