Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies
07:47

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies

Published on: September 15, 2023

2.3K

Galectin-3--a jack-of-all-trades in cancer

Anna U Newlaczyl1, Lu-Gang Yu

  • 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.

Cancer Letters
|October 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Galectin-3, a protein found in human cells, significantly influences cancer development and spread. Understanding its roles in cell growth, invasion, and metastasis is crucial for cancer research.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Galectin-3 is a mammalian β-galactoside-binding protein present in various human cells.
  • Altered galectin-3 expression and localization are observed in cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of galectin-3 in cancer cell behavior.
  • To emphasize galectin-3's involvement in tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on galectin-3 in cancer.
  • Analysis of galectin-3's interactions and localizations within cancer cells.

Main Results:

  • Galectin-3 regulates key cancer cell activities including growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis.
  • Its diverse effects stem from multiple cellular localizations and interactions with various binding partners.

Conclusions:

  • Galectin-3 is a critical regulator of cancer cell behavior, impacting both tumor initiation and the metastatic process.
  • Further research into galectin-3's mechanisms is warranted for therapeutic strategies.

More Related Videos

An Experimental Model of Myocardial Infarction for Studying Cardiac Repair and Remodeling in Knockout Mice09:29

An Experimental Model of Myocardial Infarction for Studying Cardiac Repair and Remodeling in Knockout Mice

Published on: July 14, 2023

1.3K
Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics08:11

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics

Published on: March 26, 2018

8.8K

Related Concept Videos

Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain,...
4.4K
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved...
10.0K
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR...
2.9K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
8.2K
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
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...
5.2K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
9.9K