Cvejic, Dubravka (7003808274)Dubravka (7003808274)CvejicSavin, S. (35568292500)S. (35568292500)SavinPetrovic, I. (57197968536)I. (57197968536)PetrovicPaunovic, I. (6603859894)I. (6603859894)PaunovicTatic, S. (6701763955)S. (6701763955)TaticKrgovic, K. (6603288163)K. (6603288163)KrgovicHavelka, M. (7004544911)M. (7004544911)Havelka2025-06-132025-06-132005https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02199.xhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-23444439359&doi=10.1111%2fj.1365-2559.2005.02199.x&partnerID=40&md5=103ea4ee82b261ecae9be426a67722ffhttps://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/11143Aims: Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside binding protein, recently recognized as a promising molecular marker of thyroid malignancy. As reported in several studies, galectin-3 is highly expressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma, but its expression has not been investigated in papillary microcarcinoma, which is a variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods and results: Using a monoclonal antibody to galectin-3 and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) immunohistochemical technique, we analysed galectin-3 expression in 63 cases of papillary microcarcinoma. The results showed immunohistochemical reactivity for galectin-3 in 51 (80.9%) cases. Intensity of staining varied from strong or moderate to weak. Galectin-3 localization was mostly cytoplasmic, but also membranous or nuclear in some cells. Immunohistochemical expression of galectin-3 was not found in 12 (19.1%) cases. Most galectin-3 negative microcarcinomas (10/12) were of the non-classical type, i.e. without papillary architecture. Neither the frequency nor the intensity of a positive reaction was related to tumour size. Conclusions: Galectin-3 gene is expressed at the protein level in most papillary microcarcinomas, although with slightly lower frequency than that reported for clinically evident papillary thyroid carcinoma. The presence of galectin-3 in clinically silent microcarcinomas may indicate that galectin-3 is not related to growth or aggressiveness of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas but rather plays some other role in thyroid tumour biology. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Limited.Galectin-3ImmunohistochemistryPapillary carcinomaPapillary microcarcinomaThyroid