Role of galectin-3 in adenocarcinoma liver metastasis

Galectin-3 is a lactosamine-specific lectin that binds to laminin sugar-sit es, and up-regulated expression of galectin-3 in primary colorectal cancer is involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Inhibitory effects of cel l adhesion and liver metastasis. of adenocarcinoma via portal vein by lecti n-binding sugar and anti-galectin-3 antibody was examined to determine the role of galectin-laminin binding in cancer liver metastasis. Highly metasta tic adenocarcinoma cell lines XK4-A3 and RPM14788 were used in in vitro cel l attachment and nude mice liver metastatic experiments, and inhibitory eff ects of anti-calectin-3 antibody or lectin-binding sugars were examined. Th e in vitro adhesion assay demonstrated that the anti-galectin-3 antibody an d a-lactose inhibited XK4-A3 and RPM14788 cell adhesion to laminin in a dos e-dependent manner. The liver metastasis. of XK4-A3 and RPM14788 was reduce d 50 and 60%, respectively (P <0.001) by alpha -lactose treatment. Anti-gal ectin-3 antibody also inhibited liver metastasis in a dose-dependent manner , and maximum inhibition rate was 66% for XK4-A3 and 90% for RPM14788. Gale ctin-3 plays an important role in liver metastasis of adenocarcinoma by the mechanisms of galectin-3 binding to laminin. Inhibition of galectin-3 on c ancer cell surface induces reduced cell attachment to laminin and liver met astasis.