At the University of Würzburg in Germany scientists have developed a new sugar molecule that sticks to tumors and that may end up being used for early cancer detection and for killing of tumors. The molecule was created to target and bind with galectin-1, a protein that exists on all our healthy cells, but that is overproduced by tumor cells. Galectin-1 is important not only because its high concentration can be a marker for a tumor, but also because it helps tumors disguise themselves from the immune system.
In order to be useful for research and in clinical practice, the new sugar molecule has a specially engineered spot where fluorescent dyes or other cargo, including drugs, can be attached. This allows the molecule to be tracked, as large concentrations of it may signal the existence of a tumor. Using the same molecule, but loaded with a targeted anti-cancer medication, can turn it into a safe and easy way to selectively target tumor cells while having the rest of the body receive a much lower dose of the drug. This would be particularly useful with chemo agents, as their main flaw is that the rest of the body is exposed to their effects.
Study in journal ChemBioChem: Exploring the Structural Space of the Galectin-1–Ligand Interaction…