Two opposing roles of O-glycans in tumor metastasis.

Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of metastatic cancers and the poor outcome for patients, the processes of tumor metastasis still remain poorly understood. It has been shown that cell-surface carbohydrates attached to proteins through the amino acids serine or threonine (O-glycans) are involved in tumor metastasis, with the roles of O-glycans varying depending on their structure. Core2 O-glycans allow tumor cells to evade natural killer (NK) cells of the immune system and survive longer in the circulatory system, thereby promoting tumor metastasis. Core3 O-glycans or O-mannosyl glycans suppress tumor formation and metastasis by modulating integrin-mediated signaling. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the detailed molecular mechanisms by which O-glycans promote or suppress tumor metastasis.

• Authors: Shigeru Tsuboi, Shingo Hatakeyama, Chikara Ohyama, Minoru Fukuda
• Journal: Trends in molecular medicine (Trends Mol Med) Vol. 18 Issue 4 Pg. 224-32 (Apr 2012) ISSN: 1471-499X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22425488 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Integrins
• Polysaccharides

Topics

• Animals
• Humans
• Integrins (metabolism)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology, metabolism)
• Neoplasm Metastasis (immunology)
• Polysaccharides (immunology, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction