Diagnosis Interest of Galectin 3 Dosage in Nodular and Multinodular Goiter Pretreatment

Endogenous cell-surface galectins have recently gained interest as antigenic determinants of varied tumor tissue. They are also used as potential targets for antitumor therapy by coupling cytotoxic molecules or radioisotopes either with carbohydrate residues, or with antibodies antigalectines.

In addition, the plasma level dosage of galectin 3 seems possible and provides a diagnostic help in thyroid lesions and in monitoring squamous cell head and neck.

In a study on thyroid tumors, the sensitivity [Se] and specificity [Sp] of the plasma level was poor (just over 70%), but this study was conducted with a low and heterogeneous recruitment (70 patients). The inclusion of a greater number of patients with a better selection would better inform us about qualities of these diagnostic assays.

An additional argument would be the dosage of galectins in the water rinse of the needle aspiration biopsy. This study has never been made so far and there is no evidence to predict its sensitivity and specificity. The advantage is that galectin will not be "diluted" as would be the case in an assay done in the blood. Moreover, it would select candidates for dosage nodules, ie those whose size would impose, if it was a cancer, to resort to surgical treatment more extensive than originally planned. Indeed, compared to preoperative already existing metering "interesting" dosage would diagnose:

• with a good reliability (Se and Sp > 80%)
• a cancer requiring additional treatment (i.e. surgical revision to achieve a total thyroidectomy, accompanied by lymph node dissection) resulting in a higher risk of morbidity if reoperation.