Hafiz Ahmed
Glycomantra Inc.-University of Maryland, USA
Title: Cod glycopeptides suppresses T-cell apoptosis and prostate cancer metastasis
Biography
Biography: Hafiz Ahmed
Abstract
Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding lectin, is involved in the progression of many cancers. In our recent publication in PNAS (PMC3612646), we have shown that in prostate cancer galectin-3 promotes tumor angiogenesis, tumor-endothelial cell adhesion, and metastasis; and also evades immune surveillance through killing of infiltrating T cells. To block galectin-3-mediated interactions, we purified a TFD-containing glyco-peptide from cod fish (designated GM1) that specifically binds galectin-3 with picomolar affinity. GM1 blocks galectin-3-mediated angiogenesis, tumor-endothelial cells interactions and metastasis of prostate cancer cells in mice. Moreover, apoptosis of activated T cells induced by either recombinant galectin-3 or prostate cancer patient serum-associated galectin-3 was inhibited at nano-molar concentration of GM1. As the galectin-3-TFD interaction is a key factor driving metastasis in most epithelial cancers, this high affinity galectin-3 antagonist (GM1) should be a promising anti-metastatic agent for the treatment of various cancers, including prostate adenocarcinoma.