Studies On And Synthesis Of Tumor-associated Oligosaccharide

The complex series of events constituting tumor metastasis can be subdivided into a number of distinct steps, several of which involve the traversal of extracellular matrix barriers. Extracellular matrices are composed of macromolecules that include laminin, fibronectin. These molecules can promote cell adhesion and migration and are believed to play a role in tumor cell invasion. Our research group has observed that N-acetyllactosamine and lactose are capable of inhibiting the attachment of the S180 to laminin and that N-acetyllactosamine is more effective than lactose.In addition, Raz and Lotan demonstrated the presence of lactose-binding lectins at the tumor cell surface and the positive relationship between endogenous-lectin expression and the acquisition of matastatic properties.These findings stimulated us to explore the possible prevention of metastatic spread by inhibiting the attachment of tumor cells to the macromolecules and traversal of matrix and blocking the cognitive interactions among tumor cells and between tumor and hosts with competitive oligosaccharide as follows:Galβ(1→4)GlcNHAcβ(1→6)Manα(1→6)ManαOCH₃ Galβ(1→4)GlcNHAcβ(1→2)27Galβ(1→4)Glcβ(1→6)Manα(1→6)ManαOCH₃ Galβ(1→4)Glcβ(1→2)34...