Galectin-1 links tumor hypoxia and radiotherapy

Glycobiology. 2014 Oct;24(10):921-5. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwu062. Epub 2014 Jun 27.

Abstract

Radiation therapy is a main stay in treating solid tumors and plays a significant role in definitive and adjuvant therapy. Unfortunately, local control remains a challenge, in which the success of radiotherapy is largely dictated by tumor hypoxia, DNA damage repair and the antitumor immune response. Extensive efforts have therefore been devoted to targeting the factors that attenuate tumor radiosensitivity, although with limited success. Mounting evidence suggests that tumor and endothelial cells may utilize galectin-1 (Gal-1) for protection against radiation through several mechanisms. Targeting Gal-1 in combination with radiotherapy provides an exciting approach to address several radiation-prohibitive mechanisms.

Keywords: galectin-1; radiotherapy; tumor hypoxia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / radiation effects
  • Galectin 1 / chemistry
  • Galectin 1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / metabolism
  • Hypoxia / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / radiotherapy*
  • Radiation Tolerance / genetics

Substances

  • Galectin 1
  • LGALS1 protein, human