Figure 1.

Expression and role of galectins in pancreatic cancer. The most important roles for Gal1, Gal3, Gal4, and Gal9 in pancreatic cancer are shown. Gal1, mainly expressed in pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), has been reported to play an autocrine role in PSC activation as well as a paracrine role inducing tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration, T-cell apoptosis, and Th2 cytokine secretion. Gal3, which is expressed in tumor epithelial cells, is associated to tumor cell migration, invasion, PSC activation, and immune response modulation. On the other hand, Gal4, expressed in tumor cells, inhibits tumor cell migration and invasion. Finally, Gal9 has been related to tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) reprogramming and inhibition of T-cell activation.