Galectin-1 is Essential in Tumor Angiogenesis and is a Target for Antiangiogenesis Therapy

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2006 Oct 18

PMID 17043243

Citations 198

Authors

Victor L J L Thijssen

Ruben Postel

Ricardo J M G E Brandwijk

Ruud P M Dings

Irina Nesmelova

Sietske Satijn

Nicole Verhofstad

Yusaku Nakabeppu

Linda G Baum

Jeroen Bakkers

Kevin H Mayo

Francoise Poirier

Arjan W Griffioen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We describe that galectin-1 (gal-1) is a receptor for the angiogenesis inhibitor anginex, and that the protein is crucial for tumor angiogenesis. gal-1 is overexpressed in endothelial cells of different human tumors. Expression knockdown in cultured endothelial cells inhibits cell proliferation and migration. The importance of gal-1 in angiogenesis is illustrated in the zebrafish model, where expression knockdown results in impaired vascular guidance and growth of dysfunctional vessels. The role of gal-1 in tumor angiogenesis is demonstrated in gal-1-null mice, in which tumor growth is markedly impaired because of insufficient tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, tumor growth in gal-1-null mice no longer responds to antiangiogenesis treatment by anginex. Thus, gal-1 regulates tumor angiogenesis and is a target for angiostatic cancer therapy.

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