Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Quantification of Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness Using a Three-dimensional (3D) Model
Published on: June 11, 2014
Galectin-3 expression alters adhesion, motility and invasion in a lung cell line (DLKP), in vitro
Lorraine O'Driscoll1, Rasha Linehan, Yiz Heng Liang
1National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland. Lorraine.ODriscoll@dcu.ie
Background:
Galectin-3, a beta-galactosidase-binding protein, is involved in regulating many physiological and pathological cellular processes. The significance of galectin-3 in human lung and nasal carcinoma cells has not yet been elucidated.
Materials And Methods:
Using RT-PCR and Western blotting techniques, the constitutive level of galectin-3 in the human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line, DLKP, was investigated. Following galectin-3 cDNA transfection into these cells, growth, toxicity, adhesion, motility and invasion assays were used to investigate the relevance of galectin-3 over-expression.
Results:
Galectin-3 over-expression did not induce a multi-drug resistance phenotype or significantly affect cell growth rate, but it did result in enhanced (i) adhesion to extracellular matrix components; (ii) cell motility; and (iii) in vitro invasiveness. Furthermore, studies of RPMI-2650 variants suggest that galectin-3 expression correlates with nasal carcinoma cell invasiveness.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that galectin-3 expression levels in both lung and nasal tumour cells may play a role in cell motility, invasion, and metastasis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Integrins
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Selectins
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...

