Gastric cancer-secreted galectin-1 promotes peritoneal mesothelial-mesenchymal transition to prime peritoneal...

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is the most common cause of death in gastric cancer (GC) patients. Targeting the molecular mechanisms of PM in GC could reduce its incidence and improve clinical outcomes. Using clinical specimen analysis, lentivirus transfection, western blotting, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, cell adhesion assays, and a GC peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) animal model, we explored galectin-1's role in promoting peritoneal MMT (mesothelial-mesenchymal transition) and enhancing PM through in vivo and in vitro studies. Galectin-1 in the GC microenvironment reprograms peritoneal mesothelial cells to facilitate PM, with its high expression in GC tissues being a key factor for PM. Galectin-1-induced peritoneal MMT through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is an important mechanism for GCPM, offering a potential target for GC treatment.