Galectins as Molecular Targets for Therapeutic Intervention.

ABSTRACT: Galectins are a family of small, highly conserved, molecular effectors that mediate various biological processes, including chemotaxis and angiogenesis, and that function by interacting with various cell surface glycoconjugates, usually targeting ?-galactoside epitopes. Because of their significant involvement in various biological functions and pathologies, galectins have become a focus of therapeutic discovery for clinical intervention against cancer, among other pathological disorders. In this review, we focus on understanding galectin structure-function relationships, their mechanisms of action on the molecular level, and targeting them for therapeutic intervention against cancer.

SUBMITTER: Dings RPM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5877766 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature