# Research Project 3 Galectin-1-glycan interactions: Novel regulatory checkpoints linking immunosuppression and angiogenesis in virally induced cancers

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $21,894

## Abstract

Project 3 Abstract
Viral oncogenesis is responsible of 20% of total cancer. In particular, KSHV and HPV are the
most common oncogenic viruses infecting millions of patients per year.
Although the efficiency
of these viruses to alter cell cycle regulation and manipulate cell signal pathways they need a
co-cofactor to develop neoplastic lesions. Frequently, HIV co-infection is the most important
association with KSHV and HPV because attenuates immune response.
Active antiretroviral
treatment (HAART) has become an effective therapy but at time patients progress and require
additional treatments
. Galectin-1 (Gal1), a glycan binding protein with immunosuppressive
effects modulates tumor microenvironments by inducing apoptosis of activated T cells,
promoting
IL-27- Foxp3+ Tregs. Recently, we have
tolerogenic dendritic cells and expanding
demonstrated that Gal1-N-glycans on VEGFR2 links tumor hypoxia to aberrant angiogenesis
and preserves vascularization in anti-VEGF refractory tumors facilitating tumor growth and
metastasis. These data, suggest that targeting Gal1-N-glycan interactions may overcome
resistance to anti-cancer therapies by promoting compensatory angiogenesis and by
potentiating immune responses. Specific changes in the glycome and up-regulation of Gal1 in
infected viral oncogenic-cells seems to be the key for the development of a new generation of
therapies for sarcoma kaposi tumors and HPV-associated malignancies. Anti-Gal1 mAbs
could re-educate immune system improving actual therapies. In this project, we propose to
use an interdisciplinary approach to explore the Gal1-N-glycan axis as a potential
player in pathogenesis of viral-associated tumors by fine tuning critical signaling
pathways and promoting oncogenic inflammation with the ultimate goal to improve a
new generation diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed at limiting tumor growth
by suppressing PDGFRA-dependent aberrant signaling and potentiating antitumor
immunity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246320
- **Project number:** 5U54CA221208-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Gabriel Rabinovich
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $21,894
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246320

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246320, Research Project 3 Galectin-1-glycan interactions: Novel regulatory checkpoints linking immunosuppression and angiogenesis in virally induced cancers (5U54CA221208-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246320. Licensed CC0.

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