title: Concanavalin A: a potential anti-neoplastic agent targeting apoptosis, autophagy and anti-angiogenesis for cancer therapeutics.
abstract: Concanavalin A (ConA), a Ca(2+)/Mn(2+)-dependent and mannose/glucose-binding legume lectin, has drawn a rising attention for its remarkable anti-proliferative and anti-tumor activities to a variety of cancer cells. ConA induces programmed cell death via mitochondria-mediated, P73-Foxo1a-Bim apoptosis and BNIP3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy. Through IKK-NF-κB-COX-2, SHP-2-MEK-1-ERK, and SHP-2-Ras-ERK anti-angiogenic pathways, ConA would inhibit cancer cell survival. In addition, ConA stimulates cell immunity and generates an immune memory, resisting to the same genotypic tumor. These biological findings shed light on new perspectives of ConA as a potential anti-neoplastic agent targeting apoptosis, autophagy and anti-angiogenesis in pre-clinical or clinical trials for cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences & State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Wen-wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jia-ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Huai-long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jin-ku
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11 / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003208:Concanavalin A; C516724:PTPN11 protein, human; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D018631:ras Proteins