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Review
. 2022 Nov;112(5):1041-1052.
doi: 10.1002/JLB.5MR0822-673R. Epub 2022 Sep 20.

Galectin-3 as a biomarker in breast neoplasms: Mechanisms and applications in patient care

Doudou Georges Massar Niang  1 , Folly Mawulolo Gaba  1 , Adame Diouf  1 , Jacobus Hendricks  2 , Rokhaya Ndiaye Diallo  3 , Maguette Deme Sylla Niang  1 , Babacar Mbengue  1 , Alioune Dieye  1
Affiliations
Review

Galectin-3 as a biomarker in breast neoplasms: Mechanisms and applications in patient care

Doudou Georges Massar Niang et al. J Leukoc Biol. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Galectin-3 is a member of the lectin family encoded by the LGALS3 gene on chromosome 14. It is secreted by a wide range of immune cells and mammary tumor cells. Through its activity on the tumor microenvironment, in particular on tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, galectin-3 improves the proliferation, survival, and colonizing ability of mammary neoplastic cells. Consequently, galectin-3 expression in the tumor microenvironment could worsen therapeutic outcomes of breast neoplasms and become a biomarker and a therapeutic target in combined immunotherapy in breast neoplasms. There is a limited amount of information that is available on galectin-3 in breast cancer in Africa. In this review, we analyze how galectin-3 influences the tumor microenvironment and its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in breast neoplasms. We aim to emphasize the significance of investigating galectin-3 in breast neoplasms in Africa based on the results of studies conducted elsewhere.

Keywords: M2 macrophage; NK cell; TILs; immunotherapy; tumor microenvironment.

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References

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