Galectin-3 as a Potential Target to Prevent Cancer Metastasis

Abstract

Interactions between two cells or between cell and extracellular matrix mediated by protein–carbohydrate interactions play pivotal roles in modulating various biological processes such as growth regulation, immune function, cancer metastasis, and apoptosis. Galectin-3, a member of the β-galactoside-binding lectin family, is involved in fibrosis as well as cancer progression and metastasis, but the detailed mechanisms of its functions remain elusive. This review discusses its structure, carbohydrate-binding properties, and involvement in various aspects of tumorigenesis and some potential carbohydrate ligands that are currently investigated to block galectin-3 activity.

Runt‐Related Transcription Factor 2 (Runx2) Is Responsible for Galectin‐3 Overexpression in Human Thyroid Carcinoma

“…The presence of gal-3 expression is also a proved phenomenon for thyroid carcinomas, as we report in this present study as well, and it has been found that the malignant transformation of thyroid cancer is clearly associated with increased gal-3 expression [De Matos et al, 2012]. The promoter region of the gal-3 gene has several regulatory elements such as GC box, CRE motif, AP-1 region, and NF-kB [Ahmed et al, 2011]. Thus, the active role of gal-3 that plays in many cancer-related cellular processes has gained attention to which mechanisms regulates its expression associated with the transcriptional level.…”

“…Most of the studies have been pointed out that the gal-3 molecule contributes to those common phenotypic characteristics of malignancy [Ahmed et al, 2011]. Most of the studies have been pointed out that the gal-3 molecule contributes to those common phenotypic characteristics of malignancy [Ahmed et al, 2011].…”

“…This current study has been paid attention to expressional regulation of the gal-3 in some type of thyroid carcinoma cell lines. Intracellular gal-3 contributes apoptotic resistance of tumor cells by interacting Nuklin, Synexin, Bax, and FasR (CD95) [Ahmed et al, 2011]. Because knowing gal-3 localization is as important as the presence of its expression in cancer cells.…”

Nicotine promotes apoptosis resistance of breast cancer cells and enrichment of side population cells with cancer stem cell-like properties via a signaling cascade involving galectin-3, α9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and STAT3

“…In the nucleus, STAT3 binds to target genes and induces the transcription of several genes associated with cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis [48, 49]. We have been working on the gene regulation and functional characterization of galectin-3 over the years [16, 31, 46, 54–56]. Several studies suggest that galectin-3 is involved in tumor cell adhesion, proliferation, angiogenesis, cancer progression and metastasis [13, 16–20].…”

Serum galectin‐3 levels and delirium among postpartum intensive care unit women

“…So far, actual pathophysiological mechanisms of delirium remain unclear, but a growing body of evidence indicates inflammation might play an important role (Cerejeira, Firmino, VazSerra, & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2010;Cerejeira, Nogueira, Luís, VazSerra, & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2012;Dillon et al, 2017). Galectin-3, a member of the β-galactoside-binding galectin family, is uniquely chimeric (Ahmed & AlSadek, 2015;de Oliveira et al, 2015). Originally, galectin is found to be involved in multiple aspects, including cell adhesion, proliferation, clearance, apoptosis, cell activation, cell migration, and phagocytosis (Li, Li, & Gao, 2014;Peacock & DiSomma, 2014).…”