Abstract
Lectins are a large group of proteins found in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria that recognize specific carbohydrate targets and play an important role in cell recognition and communication, host-pathogen interactions, embryogenesis, and tissue development. Recently, lectins have emerged as important biomedical tools that have been used in the development of immunomodulatory, antipathogenic, and anticancer agents. Several lectins have been shown to have the ability to discriminate between normal cells and tumor cells as a result of their different glycosylation patterns. Furthermore, the specific binding of lectins to cancer cells has been shown to trigger mechanisms that can promote the death of these abnormal cells. Here, we review the importance of lectins-carbohydrates interactions in cancer therapy and diagnosis. We examine the use of lectins in the modification of nanoparticles (liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and other polymers) for anticancer drug delivery. The development of drug delivery systems (liposomes, alginate/chitosan microcapsules, alginate beads) carrying some antitumor lectins is also discussed. In these cases, the processes of cell death induced by these antitumor lectins were also showed (if available). In both cases (lectin-conjugated polymers or encapsulated lectins), these new pharmaceutical preparations showed improved intracellular delivery, bioavailability and targetability leading to enhanced therapeutic index and significantly less side effects.
Keywords: Lectins, glycosylation, cancer diagnosis and therapy, tumor cells, cell death, liposomes.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Lectin-Carbohydrate Interactions: Implications for the Development of New Anticancer Agents
Volume: 24 Issue: 34
Author(s): Evellyne de Oliveira Figueiroa, Cassia Regina Albuquerque da Cunha, Priscilla B.S. Albuquerque , Raiana Apolinario de Paula , Mary Angela Aranda-Souza , Matheus Silva Alves, Adrielle Zagmignan, Maria G. Carneiro-da-Cunha , Luis Claudio Nascimento da Silva and Maria Tereza dos Santos Correia*
Affiliation:
- Departamento de Bioquimica, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CEP 50670-420, Recife, PE,Brazil
Keywords: Lectins, glycosylation, cancer diagnosis and therapy, tumor cells, cell death, liposomes.
Abstract: Lectins are a large group of proteins found in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria that recognize specific carbohydrate targets and play an important role in cell recognition and communication, host-pathogen interactions, embryogenesis, and tissue development. Recently, lectins have emerged as important biomedical tools that have been used in the development of immunomodulatory, antipathogenic, and anticancer agents. Several lectins have been shown to have the ability to discriminate between normal cells and tumor cells as a result of their different glycosylation patterns. Furthermore, the specific binding of lectins to cancer cells has been shown to trigger mechanisms that can promote the death of these abnormal cells. Here, we review the importance of lectins-carbohydrates interactions in cancer therapy and diagnosis. We examine the use of lectins in the modification of nanoparticles (liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and other polymers) for anticancer drug delivery. The development of drug delivery systems (liposomes, alginate/chitosan microcapsules, alginate beads) carrying some antitumor lectins is also discussed. In these cases, the processes of cell death induced by these antitumor lectins were also showed (if available). In both cases (lectin-conjugated polymers or encapsulated lectins), these new pharmaceutical preparations showed improved intracellular delivery, bioavailability and targetability leading to enhanced therapeutic index and significantly less side effects.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
de Oliveira Figueiroa Evellyne , Albuquerque da Cunha Regina Cassia , Albuquerque B.S. Priscilla , de Paula Apolinario Raiana , Aranda-Souza Angela Mary , Alves Silva Matheus , Zagmignan Adrielle, Carneiro-da-Cunha G. Maria , Nascimento da Silva Claudio Luis and dos Santos Correia Tereza Maria *, Lectin-Carbohydrate Interactions: Implications for the Development of New Anticancer Agents, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2017; 24 (34) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170523110400
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170523110400 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
HER2-Mediated Anticancer Drug Delivery: Strategies to Prepare Targeting Ligands Highly Specific for the Receptor
Current Medicinal Chemistry Recent Development of CB2 Selective and Peripheral CB1/CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Ligands
Current Medicinal Chemistry High Therapeutic Potential for Systemic Delivery of a Liposomeconjugated Herpes Simplex Virus
Current Cancer Drug Targets Synthesis and Antitumor Evaluation of Novel N-substituted Norcantharidin Imidazolium Derivatives
Current Organic Synthesis Natural Products as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy to Target Cancer Stem Cells
Current Medicinal Chemistry Crotamine, a Small Basic Polypeptide Myotoxin from Rattlesnake Venom with Cell-Penetrating Properties
Current Pharmaceutical Design Herbal Compounds and Toxins Modulating TRP Channels
Current Neuropharmacology Adaptor Protein 3BP2 and Cherubism
Current Medicinal Chemistry Comparison of Radiohaloanalogues of Meta-Iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) for a Combined Gene- and Targeted Radiotherapy Approach to Bladder Carcinoma
Medicinal Chemistry In-Situ Hybridization as a Molecular Tool in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Current Medicinal Chemistry Development and Applications of Optical Imaging Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis: Diffuse Optical Tomography and Microendoscopy
Current Medical Imaging Platinum Group Antitumor Chemistry: Design and development of New Anticancer Drugs Complementary to Cisplatin
Current Medicinal Chemistry Triterpenoids for Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Current Status and Future Prospects
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology The Roles of Histone Demethylase UTX and JMJD3 (KDM6B) in Cancers: Current Progress and Future Perspectives
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cancer Imaging Agents for Positron Emission Tomography: Beyond FDG
Current Medical Imaging Synthesis, Radiosynthesis and Metabolism of 131I-Y-c(CGRRAGGSC)
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting mTOR Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Exploring the Synthesis and Anticancer Potential of L-Tyrosine-Platinum(II) Hybrid Molecules
Medicinal Chemistry Urine-derived Stem Cells, A New Source of Seed Cells for Tissue Engineering
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Cause and Consequences of Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in Human Cancer
Current Genomics