Glycosylation in Cancer: From Functional Roles to Therapeutic Implications

The field of cancer glycobiology aims to understand how aberrant glycosylation contributes to the development of cancer. While the significance of glycosylation to normal and pathological cellular functions is widely appreciated, the comprehensive identification of specific aberrant glycan epitopes in cancer and mechanistic understanding of their impact remain limited. In this review, we begin with a brief general background on glycosylation to orient cancer researchers to the field. We next focus on research showcasing the roles that glycosylation plays in cancer, with an emphasis on studies that draw evidence from both clinical samples and mouse models. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion of the clinical implications of glycosylation research toward improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.