Use of Soluble Galectin-3 (Gal-3) for Cancer Treatment

摘要

The present invention provides a method for preventing or treating cancer or tumorgenesis disorder comprising administering a prevention or treatment effective amount of a p53 mediated secretome component, such as Gal-3, to a patient in need thereof, thereby preventing or treating cancer or tumorgenesis disorders. Compositions and methods useful for modulating the secretome, including Gal-3, of a cell, comprising increasing extracellular levels of Gal-3, p53 expression, or expression of a downstream effector of p53, in the cell are also provided. Furthermore, methods for identifying tumor targets, diagnostic or prognostic indicators, and therapeutic strategies comprising determining extracellular levels of secreted proteins or secretomes, including Gal-3 are also provided. The present invention provides a novel tumor suppressive mechanism of p53 involving paracrine induction of apoptosis through extracellular Gal-3 levels. The invention also provides evidence that cancer cells are more susceptible to the treatment than normal cells, suggesting augmented expression of the receptor component to Gal3.