While a general shift of galectin-3 localization from nucleus to cytoplasm occurs in cancer development from adenoma to carcinoma and also this protein plays an important pivotal role within the nucleus in the regulation of cancer-related gene expression (27), including Cyclin D1, its expression in POT in this study was exclusively found in the epithelial component, mainly in the cytoplasm (yet some cells showed immunopositivity in the nucleus) (Figs. 2c,h), suggesting a possible role in cell proliferation. This evidence concerns the gene LGALS3 and carcinoma.