Involvement of Galectin-1 Tumor Microenvironment in Radiosensitivity

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 2321 - 2331
• Main Authors: CHEN, YI-FAN, WANG, CHUNG-CHI, HSU, CHIEH-YING, HUANG, ENG-YEN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antigens; Cancer therapies; Cells; Extracellular matrix; Galectin-1; Immunohistochemistry; Irradiation; Laboratory animals; Lung cancer; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Lymphocytes T; Melanoma; Radiation; Radiation tolerance; Radioresistance; Radiosensitivity; Radiosensitization; Tumor microenvironment; Tumors; Viral infections; United States > US; Taiwan; Galectin-1; radiosensitivity; tumor microenvironment
• DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.15007
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

The mechanisms of galectin-1 in radioresistance may not only involve intracellular but also extracellular effects because galectin-1 can be secreted into the extracellular matrix. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the role of the galectin-1 tumor microenvironment on radiosensitivity in a murine tumor model. Wild-type or stable galectin-1-down-regulated cancer cells (melanoma (B16F10) and lung cancer (LLC1)) were injected (subcutaneous injection) into wild-type or knockout (galectin-1, B cells, and T cells) mice that were subject to 0 or 8 Gy irradiation. Galectin-1-down-regulated B16F10 cells showed increased radiosensitivity when injected into galectin-1 knockout mice. Interestingly, radioresistance of wild-type LCC1 tumors was noted when injected into galectin-1 and B cell knockout mice. However, radiosensitization was observed in T cell knockout mice with wild-type LCC1 cells. The role of endogenous galectin-1 in radioresistance exists in cases without extracellular galectin-1. Extracellular galectin-1 requires endogenous galectin-1 to radiosensitize tumors in mice.