[Galectines as prognostic factors for the malignant lymphoproliferative diseases]

Galectines are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins with an affinity for beta-galactosides. Galectines is differentially expressed by various normal and pathological tissues and appears to be functionally polyvalent, with a wide range of biological activity. The intracellular and extracellular activity of galectines has been described. Evidence points to galectin and its ligands as one of the master regulators of such immune responses as T-cell homeostasis and survival, T-cell immune disorders, inflammation and allergies as well as host-pathogen interactions. Galectines expression or overexpression in tumors and/or the tissue surrounding them must be considered as a sign of the malignant tumor progression that is often related to the long-range dissemination of tumoral cells (metastasis), to their dissemination into the surrounding normal tissue, and to tumor immune-escape. Elevated levels of galectines have been found to be significantly associated with higher risk progressing of the lymphoproliferative disease. The targeted inhibition of Galectines expression is what should be developed for therapeutic applications against cancer progression. Galectines are the promising molecular target for the development of new and original diagnostic and therapeutic tools.