Synergistic Regulation of Tumor Immunity by Integrins and Lectins: From Molecular Mechanisms to Dual-Targeted Therapy

Abstract

The high invasiveness and metastatic potential of malignant tumors represent major obstacles to successful clinical treatment and are closely associated with poor patient prognosis. These processes rely heavily on the dynamic remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. Within this milieu, integrins—a family of transmembrane receptors mediating cell–matrix and cell–cell interactions—along with lectins capable of recognizing specific carbohydrate structures, form a complex and coordinated regulatory network that collectively drives tumor progression. This review systematically elucidates the key mechanisms by which this network regulates the malignant phenotype of tumor cells, mediates microenvironmental interactions, induces therapy resistance, and reshapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Drug development strategies targeting this network have evolved from single-target inhibition toward intervention in coordinated signaling pathways. However, clinical translation remains challenged by tumor heterogeneity, complex resistance mechanisms, and off-target toxicity. Therefore, future efforts aimed at deepening our understanding of their regulatory roles within the tumor immune microenvironment, along with optimizing immune-based combination therapies, will provide valuable insights for both basic research and clinical translation in this field.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026 · DOI ↗