Galectin 1 is a multifunctional protein encoded by Galectin 1 gene which is located on chromosome 22q12 and it is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was aimed to determine Galectin 1 gene expression in Myanmar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and the proportion of HCC cases with Galectin 1 gene overexpression. A total of 41 histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma FFPE samples were detected for Galectin 1 gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method (qPCR). In this study, mean (SD) age of the study population was 55.3 (12.6) year and ranged from 27 to 79 years. Most patients (48.7%) were middle aged within 41 to 60 years and 33 cases (80.5%) were male patients. Galectin 1 gene overexpression was found in 31 HCC cases out of 41 (75.6%) and low-expression detected in the remaining 10 cases. The mean (SD) relative concentration of Galectin-1 gene in study population was 25.88 (14.83) and ranged from 0.004 to 73.65. Among them, the ranges of relative concentration in low expression cases and overexpression cases were 0.004-0.81 and 1.177-73.65 respectively. Out of 31 Galectin 1 gene overexpression cases, 23 cases (74.2%) were histological Grade III and IV and among 10 Galectin 1 low-expression cases, 7 cases (70%) were found Grade II. These finding revealed that Galectin 1 gene was mostly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and the chance of overexpression of Galectin 1 gene varied with different histological types and grades although it was not statistically significant. It was also concluded that all cases with relative concentration more than 25 showed multifocal tumor mass, trabecular histological type and serum AFP level > 1000ng/ml.

Dr. Aung Aung Oo has completed his PHD at the age of 32 years from University of Medicine 2, Yangon. He is the diplomate of Royal College of Pathologists and also an international fellow of the College of American Pathologists. He has got post-doctoral fellowship in Oncopathology, in India since 2020. Moreover, he was trained to be a transplant pathologist at Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea. He is highly enthusiastic and expert in histopathology & cytopathology especially related with cancer patients and transplant patients. He has participated in many local and international congresses, not only as a delegate but also as a speaker.