The pleiotropic role of galectin-3 in melanoma progression: Unraveling the enigma.

Norhan B B Mohammed, Aristotelis Antonopoulos, Anne Dell, Stuart M Haslam, Charles J Dimitroff

Advances in cancer research 2023

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Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer with poor outcomes associated with distant metastasis. Intrinsic properties of melanoma cells alongside the crosstalk between melanoma cells and surrounding microenvironment determine the tumor behavior. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a ß-galactoside-binding lectin, has emerged as a major effector in cancer progression, including melanoma behavior. Data from melanoma models and patient studies reveal that Gal-3 expression is dysregulated, both intracellularly and extracellularly, throughout the stages of melanoma progression. This review summarizes the most recent data and hypotheses on Gal-3 and its tumor-modulating functions, highlighting its role in driving melanoma growth, invasion, and metastatic colonization. It also provides insight into potential Gal-3-targeted strategies for melanoma diagnosis and treatment. Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Citation

Norhan B B Mohammed, Aristotelis Antonopoulos, Anne Dell, Stuart M Haslam, Charles J Dimitroff. The pleiotropic role of galectin-3 in melanoma progression: Unraveling the enigma. Advances in cancer research. 2023;157:157-193