Liver cancer

Liver cancer (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, and despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, treatment resistance and poor survival in advanced-stage patients persist. Our work has identified galectin-1 (Gal-1) as a central regulatory axis in HCC: within hepatic tumor cells, Gal-1 reprograms adhesion and signaling, promotes survival and invasion, and establishes a pro-angiogenic dialogue with the tumor microenvironment; moreover, it contributes to therapeutic resistance. This framework positions Gal-1 as both a therapeutic target and a biomarker for precision strategies aimed at improving the rate and durability of clinical responses.