Plant Lectins as Medical Tools against Digestive System Cancers

Digestive system cancers-those of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon-rectum, liver, and pancreas-are highly related to genetics and lifestyle. Most are considered highly mortal due to the frequency of late diagnosis, usually in advanced stages, caused by the absence of symptoms or masked...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2017-07, Vol.18 (7), p.1403
Main Authors: Estrada-Martínez, Laura Elena, Moreno-Celis, Ulisses, Cervantes-Jiménez, Ricardo, Ferriz-Martínez, Roberto Augusto, Blanco-Labra, Alejandro, García-Gasca, Teresa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Biomedical Technology
Digestive System Neoplasms - drug therapy
Humans
Plant Lectins - therapeutic use
Review
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Summary:Digestive system cancers-those of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon-rectum, liver, and pancreas-are highly related to genetics and lifestyle. Most are considered highly mortal due to the frequency of late diagnosis, usually in advanced stages, caused by the absence of symptoms or masked by other pathologies. Different tools are being investigated in the search of a more precise diagnosis and treatment. Plant lectins have been studied because of their ability to recognize and bind to carbohydrates, exerting a variety of biological activities on animal cells, including anticancer activities. The present report integrates existing information on the activity of plant lectins on various types of digestive system cancers, and surveys the current state of research into their properties for diagnosis and selective treatment.
ISSN:1422-0067
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms18071403