Galectins in tumor microenvironment

Binding of galectins to the cell surface of tumor cells was suggested as modulator of the cells growth behavior and differentiation. Extracellularly galectins cross-link membrane glycoproteins and glycolipids forming gal-glycan lattices, which can modulate not only cell adhesion but also intracellular signaling pathways.

Our current work focuses further on distinct roles of galectins in tumor microenvironment as well as its impact on tumor phenotype, as exemplified by tracing significant alterations of protein expression and phosphorylation likely relevant to galectin-4 growth-inhibitory characteristics in colorectal cancer cells.