Melanoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Melanoma, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Selectively desulfated heparin inhibits P-selectin-mediated adhesion of human melanoma cells.

Wei M, Gao Y, Tian M, Li N, Hao S, Zeng X

Institute of Genetics and Cytology, School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024, People's Republic of China.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that one of the mechanisms by which heparin inhibits metastasis is by blocking the P-selectin-based interaction of platelets with tumor cells. Here we demonstrate that the sulfate groups at C6/N and especially C6, but not C2 and C3, of heparin play a critical role in P-selectin recognition and that 2-O,3-O-desulfated heparin can block P-selectin-mediated A375 human melanoma cell adhesion. Our findings show that chemical modification of heparin, especially 2-O,3-O-desulfation, may result in a therapeutic agent that is anti-metastatic because it blocks unwanted P-selectin-dependent adhesion but that lacks dose-limiting anticoagulant effects.

Published 13 September 2005 in Cancer Lett, 229(1): 123-6.
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