Circulating galectin-3 correlates with angiogenetic factors and indicators of systemic inflammation in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer

Background and Aims: The significance of circulating galectin-3 in esophageal cancer has not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to identify the relationships between circulating galectin-3 and angiogenetic, nutritional, and inflammatory factors in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: We investigated the relationships between the level of circulating galectin-3 and angiogenetic factors, such as interleukin (IL)-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and nutritional and inflammatory indicators in 11 patients with stage IV esophageal cancer. Results: The concentration of galectin-3 in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer was significantly higher than in healthy volunteers. The amount of circulating galectin-3 correlated with the amount of serum IL-6 (r = 0.636, P < 0.05), VEGF (r = 0.721, P < 0.05), sICAM-1 (r = 0.745, P < 0.01), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.786, P < 0.05), as well as the lymphocyte count (r = −0.718, P < 0.05), and the neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (r = 0.718, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Galectin-3 may play a key role in progression of tumors by increasing the production of angiogenetic factors, leading to malnutrition by persistent systemic inflammation.