TY - JOUR TI - The expression of galectin-3 in breast cancer and its association with chemoresistance: a systematic review of the literature AU - Boutas, I. AU - Potiris, A. AU - Brenner, W. AU - Lebrecht, A. AU - Hasenburg, A. AU - Kalantaridou, S. AU - Schmidt, M. JO - Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics PY - 2019 VL - 300 TODO - 5 SP - 1113-1120 PB - Springer-Verlag SN - 0932-0067, 1432-0711 TODO - 10.1007/s00404-019-05292-9 TODO - arsenic trioxide; carboplatin; cisplatin; doxorubicin; etoposide; fenretinide; galectin 3; mitomycin; tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand; antineoplastic agent; galectin 3; galectin-3, human, antiapoptotic activity; breast cancer; cancer cell; cancer chemotherapy; cancer resistance; cell protection; cell survival; DNA damage; DNA repair; human; protein expression; protein function; Review; systematic review; apoptosis; breast tumor; drug effect; drug resistance; female; genetics, Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Galectin 3; Humans TODO - Purpose: Galectin-3 is a Mr 31,000 protein that belongs to a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins. Galectin-3 has already been associated with protection against apoptosis through cell to cell or cell to matrix adhesion processes. It seems that galectin-3 plays an important role in tumor progression, cell growth, invasion and metastasis. Galectin-3 is the only member of the chimeric galectins that has an N-terminal glycine and proline domain and a C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain that allows galectin-3 to accommodate larger structures such us polylactosaminoglycans and intervene to DNA damage repair process. In this systematic review, our primary goal is to identify the effect of galectin-3 expression in association with drug resistance and apoptosis inhibition in breast cancer. Materials and methods: Scopus and PubMed databases were searched on 26 November 2018 using the following combination of keywords: (galectin-3 OR gal-3 OR LGALS3) AND (breast cancer) AND (chemoresistance OR (drug resistance) OR chemosensitivity). All the articles in English, regardless the time of publication, text availability and species included were initially accepted. Results: In the majority of the included studies, the expression of galectin-3 had a protective role in cell survival via different pathways such as the response to DNA damage and repair or the inhibition of apoptosis after treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent. Conclusion: Galectin-3 expression in breast tumors might be an important factor in the selection of the most suitable treatment. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. ER -