GALECTINS AS MODULATORS OF TUMOR PROGRESSION

FU-TONG LIU; GABRIEL RABINOVICH

NATURE REVIEWS CANCER

Nature Publishing Group

Lugar: Londres (UK); Año: 2005 vol. 5 p. 29 - 41

1474-175X

Galectins are a family of animal lectins with diverse biological activities. They function both extracellularly, by interacting with cell-surface and extracellular matrix glycoproteins and glycolipids, and intracellularly by interacting with cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins, thus modulating signaling pathways. Current research indicates that galectins have important roles in cancer, contributing to neoplastic transformation, tumour cell survival, angiogenesis and tumour metastasis. They can modulate the immune and inflammatory responses and may have a key role in the escape of tumours from immune surveillance. How do the different members of the galectin family contribute to these diverse aspects of tumour biology?