Galectins as modulators of tumour progression.
Galectins are a family of animal lectins with diverse biological activities. They function both extracellularly, by interacting with cell-surface and extracellular matrix glycoproteins and glycolipids, and intracellularly, by interacting with cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins to modulate signalling pathways. Current research indicates that galectins have important roles in cancer; they contribute to neoplastic transformation, tumour cell survival, angiogenesis and tumour metastasis. They can modulate the immune and inflammatory responses and might have a key role helping tumours to escape immune surveillance. How do the different members of the Galectin family contribute to these diverse aspects of tumour biology?
Liu
Fu-Tong
FT
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA. fliu@ucdavis.edu
Rabinovich
Gabriel A
GA
D002470:Cell Survival; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D037161:Galectins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology
D037161:Galectins