Carbohydrate-binding proteins in cancer, and their ligands as therapeutic agents.
Experimental evidence directly implicates complex carbohydrates in recognition processes, including adhesion between cells, adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix, and specific recognition of cells by one another. In addition, carbohydrates are recognized as differentiation markers and as antigenic determinants. Lectins are nonenzymatic proteins present in plants and animals, which preferentially bind to specific carbohydrate structures and play an important role in cell recognition. Modified carbohydrates and oligosaccharides have the ability to interfere with carbohydrate-protein interactions and therefore, inhibit the cell-cell recognition and adhesion processes, which play an important role in cancer growth and progression. Carbohydrate ligands therefore, are candidates to play important roles in cancer therapeutics.
Nangia-Makker
Pratima
P
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, 110E Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. makkerp@kci.wayne.edu
Conklin
Jeffrey
J
Hogan
Victor
V
Raz
Avraham
A
D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D037161:Galectins; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
D002241:Carbohydrates; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D037161:Galectins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C055213:saccharide-binding proteins