title: Galectin-9 in cancer therapy.
abstract: Galectin-9 is a tandem-repeat type galectin with two carbohydrate-recognition domains, and it was first identified as an eosinophil chemoattractant and activation factor. Subsequent studies revealed that galectin-9, similar to other galectins, modulates a variety of biological functions including cell aggregation and adhesion, as well as apoptosis of tumor cells. Galectin-9 has recently been shown to have an anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells. Recent studies have uncovered additional mechanisms by which T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3), a receptor for galectin-9, negatively regulates T cell responses by promoting CD8+ T cell exhaustion and inducing expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. These mechanisms are involved in tumor growth and escape from immunity. In many solid cancers, the loss of galectin-9 expression is closely associated with metastatic progression, and treatment with recombinant galectin-9 prevents metastatic spread in various preclinical cancer models. Here, we review the biology and physiological role of galectin-9, and discuss the therapeutic potential of galectin-9 in cancer as well as relevant patents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan. sannai@kms.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobara
authors.forename: Kazi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rafiq
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niki
authors.forename: Mitsuomi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirashima
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037161:Galectins; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins