title: Sugars boost exhausted tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by counteracting immunosuppressive activities of galectins.
abstract: Galectins released by tumor cells and macrophages can bind surface glycoproteins of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), forming glycoprotein-galectin lattices with immunosuppressive activities. Specifically, TILs covered by galectin-3 are unable to secrete cytokines after stimulation. Treating TILs ex vivo with galectin antagonists for a few hours boosts their functions. Several galectin antagonists are currently available for clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels; WELBIO; and de Duve Institute; Université Catholique de Louvain; Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gordon-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels; WELBIO; and de Duve Institute; Université Catholique de Louvain; Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demotte
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels; WELBIO; and de Duve Institute; Université Catholique de Louvain; Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Bruggen
keywords: dysfunction; galectin; glycobiology; human; immunosuppression; tumor; tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte
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