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Recent progress in carbohydrate biosynthesis and function in relation to tumor biology
1Glycobiology Unit, Cancer Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. minoru@sanfordburnham.org
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
|October 6, 2012
Summary
Researchers explore carbohydrate markers and functions in cancer, identifying cancer-specific epitopes using glycosyltransferases. Tumor suppressor carbohydrates on cell surfaces are diminished in cancer, impacting cell mobility and tumor suppression.
Area of Science:
- Glycoscience and Cancer Biology
- Tumor Immunology
- Carbohydrate Chemistry
Background:
- Carbohydrates play crucial roles as cell surface markers and in biological functions.
- Dysregulation of cell surface carbohydrates is a hallmark of cancer.
- Understanding carbohydrate epitopes is vital for developing cancer-specific diagnostics and therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe recent advancements in carbohydrate markers and functions relevant to cancer.
- To introduce a novel approach for identifying cancer-specific carbohydrate epitopes.
- To summarize the tumor suppressor roles of cell surface carbohydrates and their regulation in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Identification of key glycosyltransferases involved in synthesizing tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens.
- Elucidation of biosynthetic pathways for tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens.
- Analysis of cell surface carbohydrate expression changes in normal versus cancer cells.
Main Results:
- A novel approach identifies cancer-specific carbohydrate epitopes by focusing on synthesizing glycosyltransferases and biosynthetic pathways.
- Cell surface carbohydrates, acting as tumor suppressors in normal cells, are significantly diminished in cancer cells.
- Downregulation of laminin-binding glycans attached to α-dystroglycan in cancer cells leads to increased cell mobility and potential tumor metastasis.
Conclusions:
- Carbohydrate epitopes can be effectively identified through the study of glycosyltransferases and their synthetic pathways.
- Diminished expression of cell surface tumor suppressor carbohydrates contributes to cancer progression.
- Restoration of laminin-binding glycans may represent a therapeutic strategy to suppress cancer cell mobility and tumor formation.
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