title: Galectin-3: a potential target for cancer prevention.
abstract: Protein-carbohydrate interactions play significant role in modulating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, which, in turn, mediate various biological processes such as growth regulation, immune function, cancer metastasis, and apoptosis. Galectin-3, a member of the β-galactoside-binding protein family, is found multifunctional and is involved in normal growth development as well as cancer progression and metastasis, but the detailed mechanisms of its functions are not well understood. This review discusses its structure, binding properties, transcriptional regulation and roles in homotypic/heterotypic cell adhesion, angiogenesis and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA ; University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Hafiz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Prasun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaptan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Gargi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyaya
keywords: TF-disaccharide; angiogenesis; apoptosis; galectin-3; tumorigenesis