Inhibition of liver metastasis in mice by blocking hepatocyte lectins with arabinogalactan infusions and D-galactose.
According to our hypothesis, organ-specific lectins (e.g., the D-galactose-specific hepatic binding protein) play an important role in the organ location of metastatic malignant cells. The rapid clearance and uptake by the liver of tritiated alpha 1-acid-(asialo)glycoprotein from the circulation of Balb/c mice was markedly delayed after preinjection of D-galactose or arabinogalactan. The preinjection (1 h) and regular application (for 3 days after tumor cell inoculation in Balb/c mice) of the receptor blocking agents D-galactose and arabinogalactan prevented the settling of sarcoma L-1 tumor in the liver completely, but did not influence the settling in the lung. Other galactans, dextrans, and phosphate-buffered saline showed no effect. Therefore, when lectins were blocked with competitive-specific glycoconjugates, colonization was prevented.
D000818:Animals; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005685:Galactans / Q000494:pharmacology; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*
D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005685:Galactans; D037102:Lectins; C027122:hepatic sialoglycoprotein receptor; C005653:arabinogalactan; D005690:Galactose