The cancer glycome: carbohydrates as mediators of metastasis

Siobhan V Glavey; Daisy Huynh; Michaela R Reagan; Salomon Manier; Michele Moschetta; Yawara Kawano; Aldo M Roccaro; Irene M Ghobrial; Lokesh Joshi; Michael E O'Dwyer

doi:10.1016/j.blre.2015.01.003

The cancer glycome: carbohydrates as mediators of metastasis

Blood Rev. 2015 Jul;29(4):269-79. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2015.01.003. Epub 2015 Jan 23.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Glycoscience Research Group, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: siobhan_glavey@dfci.harvard.edu.
² Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Daisy_Huynh@DFCI.HARVARD.EDU.
³ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: MichaelaR_Reagan@DFCI.HARVARD.EDU.
⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Salomon_Manier@DFCI.HARVARD.EDU.
⁵ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: MICHELE_MOSCHETTA@DFCI.HARVARD.EDU.
⁶ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Yawara_Kawano@DFCI.HARVARD.EDU.
⁷ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Aldo_Roccaro@dfci.harvard.edu.
⁸ Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: irene_ghobrial@dfci.harvard.edu.
⁹ Glycoscience Research Group, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: lokesh.joshi@nuigalway.ie.
¹⁰ Glycoscience Research Group, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Department of Hematology National University of Ireland, Galway and Galway University Hospital, Ireland. Electronic address: michael.odwyer@nuigalway.ie.

PMID: 25636501
DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2015.01.003

Abstract

Glycosylation is a frequent post-translational modification which results in the addition of carbohydrate determinants, "glycans", to cell surface proteins and lipids. These glycan structures form the "glycome" and play an integral role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions through modulation of adhesion and cell trafficking. Glycosylation is increasingly recognized as a modulator of the malignant phenotype of cancer cells, where the interaction between cells and the tumor micro-environment is altered to facilitate processes such as drug resistance and metastasis. Changes in glycosylation of cell surface adhesion molecules such as selectin ligands, integrins and mucins have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several solid and hematological malignancies, often with prognostic implications. In this review we focus on the functional significance of alterations in cancer cell glycosylation, in terms of cell adhesion, trafficking and the metastatic cascade and provide insights into the prognostic and therapeutic implications of recent findings in this fast-evolving niche.

Keywords: Cancer; Glycans; Glycome; Glycosylation; Metastasis; Post-translational modification; Trafficking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Carbohydrates / adverse effects*
Glycosylation
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms / prevention & control*
Polysaccharides
Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Substances

Carbohydrates
Polysaccharides