Title:Galectin-9 in Cancer Therapy
VOLUME: 7 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Shintaro Fujihara, Hirohito Mori, Hideki Kobara, Kazi Rafiq, Toshiro Niki, Mitsuomi Hirashima and Tsutomu Masaki
Affiliation:Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Keywords:Anti-cancer therapy, Galectin-9, recombinant galectin-9
Abstract:Galectin-9 is a tandem-repeat type galectin with two carbohydrate-recognition domains, and it was first identified
as an eosinophil chemoattractant and activation factor. Subsequent studies revealed that galectin-9, similar to other
galectins, modulates a variety of biological functions including cell aggregation and adhesion, as well as apoptosis of
tumor cells. Galectin-9 has recently been shown to have an anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells. Recent studies have
uncovered additional mechanisms by which T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3), a receptor for galectin-9, negatively
regulates T cell responses by promoting CD8+ T cell exhaustion and inducing expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor
cells. These mechanisms are involved in tumor growth and escape from immunity. In many solid cancers, the loss of
galectin-9 expression is closely associated with metastatic progression, and treatment with recombinant galectin-9
prevents metastatic spread in various preclinical cancer models. Here, we review the biology and physiological role of
galectin-9, and discuss the therapeutic potential of galectin-9 in cancer as well as relevant patents.
