Concanavalin A, from an old protein to novel candidate anti-neoplastic drug

Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2010 Nov;3(3):123-8. doi: 10.2174/1874467211003030123.

Abstract

Plant lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins distributed widely in a variety of plant species, have been well-known to possess a broad range of significant biological functions such as anti-tumor, anti-fungal and anti-viral activities. Amongst the seven major lectin families, legume lectins have been drawing a rising attention for cancer biologists due to their remarkable anti-tumor properties compared to other lectin families. In this review, we mainly focus on analyzing the anti-tumor activities of Concanavalin A (ConA), the first and most typical representative of legume lectin family, and its related mechanisms of cell death implicated in apoptosis and autophagy. We present the up-to-date experimental advancements that ConA is able to induce cancer cell apoptosis through mitochondria-dependent and p73-mediated pathways, as well as ConA can induce cancer cell autophagy through a mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway. In addition, we further discuss the pre-clinical studies of ConA for its potential cancer therapeutic applications. In conclusion, these findings may shed light on the complicated molecular mechanisms of ConA-induced cancer cell death, thereby opening a new perspective for plant lectins as potential anti-neoplastic drugs in future cancer therapeutics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis
  • Autophagy
  • Concanavalin A / chemistry
  • Concanavalin A / therapeutic use*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Lectins / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Protein p73
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Plant Lectins
  • TP73 protein, human
  • Tumor Protein p73
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Concanavalin A