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Galectin-3 has a key role in Gastric CancerBOSTON, April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galecto, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLTO), a NASDAQ listed biotechnology company focused on the development of novel treatments for fibrosis and cancer, today announced the publication of a paper in Gastric Cancer, a joint official peer-reviewed journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association, demonstrating the key role galectin-3 plays in gastric cancer. The paper, entitled “Crosstalk between WNT and STAT3 is mediated by galectin-3 in tumor progression", outlines how galectin-3 promotes cancer cell growth through the well-established STAT3-WNT pathway. This paper adds to the growing literature indicating a linkage between high levels of galectin-3 in the tumor micro-environment of several cancers, promoting cancer growth, cancer spread and leading to worse prognosis. The preclinical research published in Gastric Cancer demonstrates that GB1107, one of Galecto’s galectin-3 inhibitors optimized for mouse galectin-3, is potent in inhibiting the cancer promoting effects of galectin-3. The scientific work is a collaboration between Yonsei University and Chosun University, both in South Korea, Lund University and Galecto. “We detected increased levels of galectin-3 and STAT3 phosphorylation in the stomach tissues of WNT1-overexpressing mouse models. Furthermore, high expression levels and co-localization of ß-catenin, pSTAT3, and galectin-3 in patients with advanced gastric cancer were correlated with a poorer prognosis,” said Kyung-Hee Chun, PhD, Professor at Yonsei University and the corresponding author of the paper. Dr. Hans Schambye, CEO of Galecto added, “This research is very exciting as it outlines a potential new cancer indication in which galectin-3 plays a key role. In this preclinical study, GB1107, our orally active galectin-3 inhibitor optimized for murine activity, demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumor growth in orthotopic gastric cancer-bearing mice. We believe these data together with existing data on the role of gaectin-3 in cancer provide a solid basis for exploring clinical application of our galectin-3 inhibitors in gastric cancer therapy.” “Galecto is planning to initiate a clinical study in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with our clinical phase oral galectin-3 inhibitor GB1211, a close analog of the murine GB1107. The promising effects seen in this preclinical study in gastric cancer support the belief that our galectin-3 inhibitors may have broad applicability in many cancer types,” continued Dr. Schambye. About Galecto Galecto intends to use its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information. For regular updates about Galecto, visit www.galecto.com. About GB1211 About galectin-3 Forward-Looking Statements For more information, contact:
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