Molecular regulation of galectin-3 expression and therapeutic implication in cancer progression

Lei Wang; Xiu-Li Guo

doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.01.014

Molecular regulation of galectin-3 expression and therapeutic implication in cancer progression

Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Mar:78:165-171. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.01.014. Epub 2016 Jan 29.

Authors

Lei Wang¹, Xiu-Li Guo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China.
² Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China. Electronic address: guoxl@sdu.edu.cn.

PMID: 26898438
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.01.014

Abstract

Galectin-3, a multifunctional protein, distributes inside and outside cells and plays an important role in tumor cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and metastasis in multiple tumors. Changes in galectin-3 expression are commonly seen in cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. Therefore, to understand the molecular regulation of galectin-3 expression could aid the development of new approach for cancer treatment. This review summarizes different expression of galectin-3 in cancer cells and patients' serum, the regulation mechanism and the potential therapeutic targets of galectin-3 in cancer progression.

Keywords: Cancer; Galectin-3; Inflammatory cytokines; Ras/MAPK pathway; Regulation mechanism; Transcription factors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Disease Progression*
Galectin 3 / metabolism*
Humans
Models, Biological
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Neoplasms / blood
Neoplasms / metabolism*
Neoplasms / pathology
Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

Galectin 3