Galectin-3 and metastasis.
Galectin-3, a 31 kDa member of the beta-galactoside-binding proteins, is an intracellular and extracellular lectin which interacts with intracellular glycoproteins, cell surface molecules and extracellular matrix proteins. Galectin-3 is expressed widely in epithelial and immune cells and its expression is correlated with cancer aggressiveness and metastasis. Galectin-3 is involved in various biological phenomena including cell growth, adhesion, differentiation, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Recent research revealed that galectin-3 is associated with several steps of invasion and metastasis, like angiogenesis, cell-matrix interaction, dissemination through blood flow and extravasation. Recently, we and others have shown that galectin-3 can be a reliable diagnostic marker in certain cancers and one of the target proteins of cancer treatment. In this review, we describe the involvement of galectin-3 in each steps of metastasis and clinical significance of galectin-3.
Takenaka
Yukinori
Y
Tumor Progression and Metastasis Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Fukumori
Tomoharu
T
Raz
Avraham
A
D000818:Animals; D023102:Anoikis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism
D037502:Galectin 3; D009569:Nitric Oxide