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Glycomics-Guided Glycoproteomics Facilitates Comprehensive Profiling of the Glycoproteome in Complex Tumor Microenvironments
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Glyco-nano-oncology: Novel therapeutic opportunities by combining small and sweet

Pablo F Hockl1, Alejandro Wolosiuk2, Juan M Pérez-Sáez1

  • 1Laboratorio de Inmunopatología, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pharmacological Research
|February 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Altered cell surface glycans in the tumor microenvironment influence cancer progression. Targeting these glycan-binding proteins (lectins) offers novel therapeutic strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Glycobiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Tumor microenvironment exhibits significant changes in glycan-related gene expression.
  • Glycosylation alterations impact cancer cells and associated stromal, endothelial, and immune cells.
  • Specific glycan changes include branched N-glycans, mucins, and altered sialylation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological relevance of lectin-glycan interactions in the tumor microenvironment.
  • To explore the potential of targeting these interactions for cancer therapy.
  • To discuss the design of nanoparticles for delivering therapeutic agents targeting lectin-glycan interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on glycan alterations and lectin-glycan interactions in cancer.
  • Analysis of the role of galectin-1 in immunosuppression and angiogenesis.
  • Discussion of nanoparticle-based drug delivery strategies for targeting lectin-glycan pathways.

Main Results:

  • Glycan alterations in the tumor microenvironment can modulate ligand availability for endogenous lectins.
  • Galectin-1 demonstrates immunosuppressive and pro-angiogenic activities within the tumor microenvironment.
  • Functionalized nanoparticles offer a platform for delivering multimeric glycans, lectins, or inhibitors.

Conclusions:

  • Differential glycan expression presents opportunities for novel cancer biomarkers.
  • Targeting lectin-glycan interactions holds therapeutic potential against cancer.
  • Nanoparticle-mediated delivery systems can be designed to exploit these interactions for antitumor activity.
Keywords:
CancerDrug deliveryGalectinsGlycobiologyNanotechnologyTheranostics

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