Silencing of galectin-3 represses osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion through inhibition of FAK/Src/Lyn activation and β-catenin expression and increases susceptibility to chemotherapeutic agents.

Galectin-3 is involved in tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Galectin-3 promotes β-catenin/Wnt signaling, and β-catenin-related oncogenesis has been frequently reported in osteosarcoma. However, the correlation between galectin-3 and β‑catenin signaling in osteosarcoma is poorly defined. We hypothesized that galectin-3 may control the migration and invasion of cancer cells and that silencing of galectin-3 would therefore, suppress motility in osteosarcoma cells. In the present study, we show that galectin-3 silencing in cultured human osteosarcoma cells had decreased cell migration and invasion capabilities; reduced the expression and activation of FAK, Src, Lyn, PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2 and β-catenin, which are key mediators of invasion; inhibited the expression and secretion of VEGF, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-6, MMP2/9 and phospho-Stat3; and potentiated sensitivity to cisplatin. Our results suggest that galectin-3 may be a feasible therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.