title: Unraveling galectin-1 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer.
abstract: Galectins belong to a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins with an affinity for β-galactosides. Galectin-1 is differentially expressed by various normal and pathologic tissues and displays a wide range of biological activities. In oncology, galectin-1 plays a pivotal role in tumor growth and in the multistep process of invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Evidence indicates that galectin-1 exerts a variety of functions at different steps of tumor progression. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that galectin-1 cellular localization and galectin-1 binding partners depend on tumor localization and stage. Recently, galectin-1 overexpression has been extensively documented in several tumor types and/or in the stroma of cancer cells. Its expression is thought to reflect tumor aggressiveness in several tumor types. Galectin-1 has been identified as a promising drug target using synthetic and natural inhibitors. Preclinical data suggest that galectin-1 inhibition may lead to direct antiproliferative effects in cancer cells as well as antiangiogenic effects in tumors. We provide an up-to-date overview of available data on the role of galectin-1 in different molecular and biochemical pathways involved in human malignancies. One of the major challenges faced in targeting galectin-1 is the translation of current knowledge into the design and development of effective galectin-1 inhibitors in cancer therapy.
authors: Oncology Therapeutic Development, 100 rue Martre, 92110 Clichy, France. Electronic address: lucile.astxer@wanadoo.fr.
authors: Lucile
authors: L
authors: Astorgues-Xerri
authors: Maria E
authors: ME
authors: Riveiro
authors: Annemilaï
authors: A
authors: Tijeras-Raballand
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Serova
authors: Cindy
authors: C
authors: Neuzillet
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Albert
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Raymond
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Faivre
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047250:Calixarenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013862:Thiogalactosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037483:Galectin 1; D010455:Peptides; D013862:Thiogalactosides; C558923:anginex peptide; C530377:compound 0118; D047250:Calixarenes; C031803:thiodigalactoside
keywords: Angiogenesis; CDC42; Cell transformation; ECM; ERK; Gal-1; Galectin-1; HIF1α; Invasion; JNK; MEK; MMP; Metastasis; NFkB; NRP1; Novel target; PI3K; PKC; ROS; Ras homolog gene family, member A; RhoA; Therapeutic application; VEGFR2; c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases; cell division control protein 42 homolog; extracellular matrix; extracellular-signal-regulated kinase; galectin-1; hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha; matrix metalloproteinase; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAP2K); neuropilin-1; nuclear factor kappa B; phosphoinositide-3-kinase; protein kinase C; reactive oxygen species; tPA; tissue plasminogen activator; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2