65 (p = 0.018), and platelet count lower than 105,500/mm3 (p = 0.02). Platelet count lower than 105,500/mm3 had the highest discriminative value for presence of large EV (sensitivity = 73.33%; specificity = 73.33%; area under receiver operating characteristics = 0.783). Conclusions: Large EV were found in 66.7% of patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent hospitalization. In patients with liver cirrhosis, the existence of thrombocytopenia may predict large EV which warrant prophylactic therapy. Keyword(s): 1. large esophageal varices; 2. liver cirrhosis; 3. platelets Presenting Author: FEI KONG www.selleckchem.com/products/CP-673451.html Additional Authors: JING JIANG, MS JIN, HX MA, JQ NIU Corresponding Author:

XUEYUAN CAO Affiliations: NVP-BGJ398 First Hospital of Jilin University, First Hospital of Jilin University, First Hospital of Jilin University, First Hospital of Jilin University Objective: Galectins (Gal) are multifunctional galectins binding

to the β-galactoside of glycoproteins that affect diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. Previous studies have reported a correlation between galectin expressions and neoplastic transformation, progression and prognosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the expression of Gal-3 and Gal-9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their prognostic values. Methods: Gal-3 and Gal-9 expression was evaluated in 247 HCC patients using tissue microarray immunohistochemistry method, of which 110 had paired adjacent normal samples. Correlations were analyzed between expression levels of Gal-3 and Gal-9 protein and tumor parameters or clinical outcomes. Results: Gal-3 expression was ADAMTS5 found in 52 of 110 tumor tissues, significant higher than that in adjacent hepatic tissues (47.3% vs 18.2%, P < 0.001), while no significant differences was observed in expression of Gal-9 (P = 0.430). Gal-3 expression was statistically correlated with histological differentiation (P = 0.016) and lymph-vascular invasion (P = 0.049) and cirrhosis (P = 0.040). Gal-9 expression was also correlated with histological differentiation (P = 0.002) and lymph-vascular invasion (P = 0.012).

Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with higher Gal-3 expression had worse overall survival (P = 0.008), however, no relationship was found in Gal-9 expression and survival (P = 0.150). Multivariate analysis showed that multiple tumor (RR = 2.97, 95%CI = 1.39–6.33, P = 0.005), lymph-vascular invasion (RR = 2.80, 95%CI = 1.14–6.93, P = 0.025) and Gal-3 expression (RR = 2.24, 95%CI = 1.29–3.89, P = 0.004) were independent factors of prognosis in HCC. Conclusion: Gal-3 expression was involved in tumor progression and related to the prognosis of HCC, while Gal-9 expression was only related to tumor progression. Gal-3 is expected to serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker of HCC. Key Word(s): 1. hepatocellular carcinoma; 2. galectin-3; 3. galectin-9; 4.