Lectins with potential for anti-cancer therapy

Tammy Yau; Xiuli Dan; Charlene Cheuk Wing Ng; Tzi Bun Ng

doi:10.3390/molecules20033791

Lectins with potential for anti-cancer therapy

Molecules. 2015 Feb 26;20(3):3791-810. doi: 10.3390/molecules20033791.

Authors

Tammy Yau¹, Xiuli Dan², Charlene Cheuk Wing Ng³, Tzi Bun Ng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. tkyau@ucdavis.edu.
² School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. danxiuli@hotmail.com.
³ School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. charlene.cw.ng@gmail.com.
⁴ School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. b021770@mailserv.cuhk.edu.hk.

Abstract

This article reviews lectins of animal and plant origin that induce apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells and hence possess the potential of being developed into anticancer drugs. Apoptosis-inducing lectins encompass galectins, C-type lectins, annexins, Haliotis discus discus lectin, Polygonatum odoratum lectin, mistletoe lectin, and concanavalin A, fucose-binding Dicentrarchus labrax lectin, and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus lectin, Polygonatum odoratum lectin, and mistletoe lectin, Polygonatum odoratum lectin, autophagy inducing lectins include annexins and Polygonatum odoratum lectin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
Apoptosis / drug effects*
Autophagy / drug effects*
Humans
Lectins / therapeutic use*
Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Lectins