Inhibition of liver metastasis in mice by blocking hepatocyte lectins with arabinogalactan infusions and D-galactose

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology Vol. 113; no. 1; pp. 51 - 55
• Main Authors: BEUTH, J, KO, H. L, OETTE, K, PULVERER, G, ROSZKOWSKI, K, UHLENBRUCK, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-01-1987
• Subjects: Animal tumors. Experimental tumors; Animals; Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; Asialoglycoproteins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Experimental digestive system and abdominal tumors; Galactans - pharmacology; Galactose - pharmacology; Lectins - antagonists & inhibitors; Liver Neoplasms - prevention & control; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neoplasm Metastasis; Sarcoma, Experimental - pathology; Tumors; Lectin; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Hepatocyte; Mouse; Liver; Rodentia; Digestive diseases; Arabinogalactan; Metastatic; Inhibition; Experimental tumor
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00389966

According to our hypothesis, organ-specific lectins (e.g., the D-galactose-specific hepatic binding protein) play an important role in the organ location of metastatic malignant cells. The rapid clearance and uptake by the liver of tritiated alpha 1-acid-(asialo)glycoprotein from the circulation of Balb/c mice was markedly delayed after preinjection of D-galactose or arabinogalactan. The preinjection (1 h) and regular application (for 3 days after tumor cell inoculation in Balb/c mice) of the receptor blocking agents D-galactose and arabinogalactan prevented the settling of sarcoma L-1 tumor in the liver completely, but did not influence the settling in the lung. Other galactans, dextrans, and phosphate-buffered saline showed no effect. Therefore, when lectins were blocked with competitive-specific glycoconjugates, colonization was prevented.