Potential role of the antiproliferative cytokine beta-galactoside binding protein in cancer therapy.
This review highlights the discovery of beta-galactoside binding protein (betaGBP), an antiproliferative cytokine, as a potent and selective anticancer agent. Unlike drugs designed to block receptor tyrosine kinases or specific control points along signaling pathways, betaGBP does not harm normal cells. As a physiological effector molecule, betaGBP can selectively induce death in cancer cells by enforcing its regulatory functions to which normal and cancer cells respond differently, and thus exploit the genetic and molecular deviations developed by cancer cells.
Mallucci
Livio
L
King's College London, Cell Signalling and Growth Laboratory, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Franklin Wilkins Building, London, UK. livio.mallucci@kcl.ac.uk
Wells
Valerie
V
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D037161:Galectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D037161:Galectins