*2.4. Evaluation of Immunohistochemistry*

IHC sections were scored as positive if epithelial cells showed immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus using a bright-field microscope (Olympus BX50; Olympus, Center Valley, PA, USA). Sections were scanned at low (×40) and high powers (×200), and Gal-3 stained cells were scored semi-quantitatively by three independent observers (GF, OP, and RSC). Immunostaining scores were determined based on the percentage positivity and staining intensity as described previously [25]. Percentage positive scores were assigned according to the scale: 0 (≤10%), 1 (11–30%), 2 (31–50%), 3 (51–70%) and 4 (>70%). Staining intensity was scored semi-quantitatively as follows: 0 (none), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate) and 3 (intense). A total score for each cytoplasmic or nuclear staining was then obtained (ranging from 0 to 7) by adding the percentage positivity and intensity scores for each section. The IHC scoring was blinded from the histopathology report. Representative photomicrographs showing each IHC score category were included in the supplementary file (Figure S1). The final score was given as an average of scores using following formula: ((percentage score 1 + intensity score 1) + (percentage score 2 + intensity score 2) + (percentage score 3 + intensity score 3))/3.
