title: The engagement of selectins and their ligands in colorectal   cancer liver metastases.
abstract: he colonization of the liver by colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is a complicated process which includes many stages, until macrometastases occur. The entrapment of malignant cells within the hepatic sinusoids and their interactions with resident non-parenchymal cells are considered very important for the whole metastatic sequence. In the sinusoids, cell connection and signalling is mediated by multiple cell adhesion molecules, such as the selectins. The three members of the selectin family, E-, P- and L-selectin, in conjunction with sialylated Lewis ligands and CD44 variants, regulate colorectal cell communication and adhesion with platelets, leucocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cells and stellate cells. Their role in CRC liver metastases has been investigated in animal models and human tissue, in vivo and in vitro, in static and shear flow conditions, and their key-function in several molecular pathways has been displayed. Therefore, trials have already commenced aiming to exploit selectins and their ligands in the treatment of benign and malignant diseases. Multiple pharmacological agents have been developed that are being tested for potential therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Group, Section of Oncology, School of Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. K.Paschos@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Paschos
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Canovas
authors.forename: Nigel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bird
mesh_terms: D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008358:Mannose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019087:Selectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
chemical_list: D006586:Hexanes; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008024:Ligands; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D019087:Selectins; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; C496819:bimosiamose; D008358:Mannose