The Lectin Helix pomatia Agglutinin as a Marker of Metastases - Clinical and Experimental Studies

Abstract

The prognosis for the majority of patients suffering from a solid neoplasm remains bleak, due to the fact that most cancers have already formed metastases at distant sites. Any progress in cancer therapy will, therefore, depend on the understanding of the metastatic cascade and therapies derived from this understanding. The development of clinically relevant models of metastases, using lectin-defined human cancer cell lines and severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, is described. In conjunction with modern imaging techniques, these models will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing the metastatic spread of tumours.