Role of galectin-3 in adenocarcinoma liver metastasis.

Abstract

Galectin-3 is a lactosamine-specific lectin that binds to laminin sugar-sites, and up-regulated expression of galectin-3 in primary colorectal cancer is involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Inhibitory effects of cell adhesion and liver metastasis of adenocarcinoma via portal vein by lectin-binding sugar and anti-galectin-3 antibody was examined to determine the role of galectin-laminin binding in cancer liver metastasis. Highly metastatic adenocarcinoma cell lines XK4-A3 and RPMI4788 were used in in vitro cell attachment and nude mice liver metastatic experiments, and inhibitory effects of anti-galectin-3 antibody or lectin-binding sugars were examined. The in vitro adhesion assay demonstrated that the anti-galectin-3 antibody and alpha-lactose inhibited XK4-A3 and RPMI4788 cell adhesion to laminin in a dose-dependent manner. The liver metastasis of XK4-A3 and RPMI4788 was reduced 50 and 60%, respectively (P<0.001) by alpha-lactose treatment. Anti-galectin-3 antibody also inhibited liver metastasis in a dose-dependent manner, and maximum inhibition rate was 66% for XK4-A3 and 90% for RPMI4788. Galectin-3 plays an important role in liver metastasis of adenocarcinoma by the mechanisms of galectin-3 binding to laminin. Inhibition of galectin-3 on cancer cell surface induces reduced cell attachment to laminin and liver metastasis.

• Authors: H Inufusa, M Nakamura, T Adachi, M Aga, M Kurimoto, Y Nakatani, T Wakano, M Miyake, K Okuno, H Shiozaki, M Yasutomi
• Journal: International journal of oncology (Int J Oncol) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 913-9 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 1019-6439 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 11604988 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, Differentiation
• Galectin 3
• Laminin
• Lectins

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (drug therapy, secondary)
• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antigens, Differentiation (immunology, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Cell Adhesion (drug effects)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Galectin 3
• Humans
• Laminin (metabolism)
• Lectins (immunology, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (metabolism)