Improving PD-1/PD-L1 cancer therapy by targeting sugar-binding proteins to boost immune response

Galectin inhibitors may improve clinical outcomes in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 therapies.

• Galectins are proteins that can influence immune responses by affecting how cells communicate in the tumor environment.
• Inhibiting galectins could help reduce T cell exclusion and immune exhaustion, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies.
• Current clinical trials are evaluating several galectin inhibitors, such as GR-MD-02, GB1211, and LYT-200.
• Some early trials have shown promising efficacy and toxicity profiles, leading to FDA Fast Track designations for certain combinations.
• The review discusses both mechanistic insights and clinical developments related to galectin-targeted therapies.

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