Role of galectin-3 combined with multi-detector contrast enhanced computed tomography in predicting disease recurrence in patients with ovarian cancer

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an endogenous β-galactoside-binding lectin, playing an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple malignancies. Aim of the study was to evaluate in a group of patients treated for ovarian cancer (EOC), the role of Gal-3 combined with multi-detector contrast-enhanced computed tomography (MDCT), as predictor of recurrence disease. Seventeen follow-up patients with recurrent ovarian cancer and 13 follow-up patients with stable ovarian disease, who performed MDCT at one-year follow-up after cytoreductive treatment, were enrolled. Serum Gal-3 concentrations were determined by using ELISA method. Twenty healthy controls were included in the analysis. Two radiologist blinded to patients status, reviewed MDCT exams, recording the following signs of disease recurrence: local tumor spread, enlarged lymph-nodes, carcinomatosis implants and metastases. We calculated the respective threshold values of Gal- 3 identified by ROC curve analysis for each imaging findings related to disease recurrence : lymphoadenopathies 92.45 ng/ml (AUC: 0.81, Se=91% Spe=73%), carcinomatosis 85.95 ng/ml (AUC:0.93 Se= 93.7%, Spe=92.8%), local tumor spread 99.05 (AUC:0.90, Se=100%, Spe=73% ) and metastasis 99.05ng/ml (AUC :0,78, Se=100% , Spe=70%). A significant correlation between high Gal-3 serum levels and presence of local tumor spread (n=11/17, p:0.001), carcinomatosis (n=16/17, p:0.00), lymphoadenopathies (n=15/17, p:0.00) and metastasis (n=11/17, p:0.003) related with recurrence disease was observed. Patients with recurrence of ovarian cancer presents higher Gal-3 values compared to women with stable diseases. Gal-3 combined to CECT should be used to improve the monitoring of EOC patients.