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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Glycan Node Analysis: A Bottom-up Approach to Glycomics
Published on: May 22, 2016
Galectins in cancer: carcinogenesis, diagnosis and therapy
Ali Hasan Ebrahim1, Zainab Alalawi1, Leonardo Mirandola1
11 Department of Surgery, 2 Internal Medicine Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Kingdom of Bahrain ; 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA ; 4 Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health and Center for Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, Amarillo, TX, USA ; 5 Division of Surgical Oncology, Texas Tech University Medical Center, Amarillo, TX, USA ; 6 Kiromic, LLC, TX, USA ; 7 Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
A major breakthrough in the field of medical oncology has been the discovery of galectins and their role in cancer development, progression and metastasis. In this review article we have condensed the results of a number of studies published over the past decade in an effort to shed some light on the unique role played by the galectin family of proteins in neoplasia, and how this knowledge may alter the approach to cancer diagnosis as well as therapy in the future. In this review we have also emphasized the potential use of galectin inhibitors or modulators in the treatment of cancer and how this novel treatment modality may affect patient outcomes in the future. Based on current pre-clinical models we believe the use of galectin inhibitors/modulators will play a significant role in cancer treatment in the future. Early clinical studies are underway to evaluate the utility of these promising agents in cancer patients.
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