The roles of ST3Gal1-6 in cancer: expression profiles and functional implications

Glycosylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification that is catalyzed by a series of glycosyltransferases and participates in diverse biological processes. The sialyltransferase family is a group of glycosyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of sialic acid onto proteins, lipids, and glycans, thereby mediating sialylation modifications. Among them, α-2,3-sialyltransferases specifically mediate the formation of α-2,3-glycosidic bonds and consist of six members: ST3Gal1 to ST3Gal6.The abnormal expression of the ST3Gal family has been found to be closely associated with the occurrence and development of various cancers. The abnormal expression of sialyltransferase can serve as a marker for tumor diagnosis, progression, and prognosis. Here, we provide a systematic overview of the expression profiles of ST3Gal1-6 in malignancies and explore their functional implications in tumor development and progression.