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Cancer glycan epitopes: biosynthesis, structure and function

Oliver M T Pearce1

  • 1Centre for Cancer & Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK.

Glycobiology
|March 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Aberrant cancer glycan epitopes are key to malignancy. Understanding their regulation and exploring glycoforms and patterns offers new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Glycobiology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Aberrant glycan epitopes are hallmarks of cancer, but their regulatory mechanisms and clinical utility are not fully understood.
  • Current understanding of cancer glycan epitopes is limited, hindering their application in diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review cancer glycan epitopes, focusing on biosynthesis, structure, and role in cancer progression.
  • To discuss the application of cancer glycan epitopes and glycoforms as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
  • To introduce emerging concepts of glycan patterns and the glycocalyx in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of major glycan classes in cancer.
  • Analysis of glycan biosynthesis, structure, and function in malignancy.
  • Discussion of current and emerging applications in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Main Results:

  • Cancer glycan epitopes are diverse, with specific structures linked to malignant transformation.
  • Cancer glycoforms offer advantages over individual glycans or proteins for biomarker development.
  • New approaches consider glycan patterns and the entire glycocalyx for novel targets.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of cancer glycan epitope regulation is crucial for clinical translation.
  • Glycoforms and glycan patterns represent promising avenues for developing advanced cancer biomarkers and therapeutics.
  • Emerging concepts in cancer glycobiology are expanding the scope of targets for bench and clinical development.

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