Importance of lectins for the prevention of bacterial infections and cancer metastases.
Adhesion of bacteria and of metastasizing tumour cells have much in common, especially the participation of lectins in this process. In the future it might be possible to inhibit the metastatic process and bacterial adhesion by blocking with lectins specific for appropriate (oligo) saccharides or glycoconjugates. Initial clinical trials are very promising.
Beuth
J
J
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, FRG.
Ko
H L
HL
Pulverer
G
G
Uhlenbruck
G
G
Pichlmaier
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D037102:Lectins