Serum Galectin-1 Autoantibodies in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Although galectin-1 expression has been investigated, the clinicopathological significance of serum galectin-1 autoantibodies has not been evaluated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the clinicopathological significance of serum galectin-1 autoantibodies in patients with HCC. Methods: Serum samples from 117 patients with HCC and 72 healthy individuals were analyzed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system specifically developed to detect serum galectin-1 autoantibodies. The optical density cutoff value was set at 0.162 (the mean value for the controls plus 3 standard deviation). In patients positive for serum galectin-1 autoantibodies, clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed, including tumor stage and positivity rates for the conventional tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II). Results: The overall positivity rate for serum galectin-1 autoantibodies was 25%, which was lower than the positivity rate of 48% for AFP and 89% for PIVKA-II. No clinicopathological characteristic was associated with serum galectin-1 autoantibodies status. Conclusions: Serum galectin-1 autoantibodies were present in patients with HCC, and serum galectin-1 autoantibodies positivity might be associated with HCC tumor progression. Although the differences between subgroups were not statistically significant, the combination of serum galectin-1 autoantibodies and a conventional tumor marker such as AFP and PIVKA-II might improve the rate of HCC detection. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000014530)