Background and purpose: Some factors are involved in progression and metastasis in colorectal cancer with same differentiation and invasion. Galectin-3 is one suspected factor which has the capacity to self–review and to differentiate to carcinoma cells. This study has evaluated the association of Galectin-3 expression with clinicopathologic features and survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed in 130 paraffin-embedded colorectal tumor specimens obtained from Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iran 2006- 2012. The type and grade of the samples were identified by two independent experienced pathologists. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed by mouse monoclonal antibody kit of Galectin-3.The expression less than 50% was considered negative (score1) and more than 50% was regarded as strong or moderate (score2).

Results: Overall 130 cases were studied (70 males and 60 females, mean age 5.82 ± 11.9 years). There were18 mucinous carcinoma and 112 adenocarcinoma samples. The expression of Galectin-3 was observed in cytoplasm of all tumor cells. Weak and strong expressions were found in 69 and 61 specimens, respectively. This study demonstrated no relationship between Galectin-3 expression and the age, gender, size, place, and tumor grade (P>0.05). But the expression of Galectin-3 was associated with metastases, lymph node involvement and survival. In other words, more lymph node involvement, widespread metastases and lower survival rate were seen in patients with negative Galectin-3 expression (P<0.05). The mean survival rate in cases with weak and strong expression of Galectin-3 were 31 and 42 months, respectively.

Conclusion: Further large-scale investigations on Galectin-3 expression could be beneficial in prognosis and improving treatment strategies.