Cancer cells all exhibit altered glycosylation, and specific glycan structures are well-known tumour progression markers. The genetic basis for some of these changes is discussed in this chapter along with some specific enzymatic pathways that are frequently altered in cancer cells, correlational patterns between altered glycosylation and clinical prognosis, in vitro assays, and in vivo studies that demonstrate the significance of these pathways in malignancy.

Abnormal alterations in cellular glycosylation are linked to the onset and spread of cancer. Immunological system cells are able to identify changed glycan-expressing cells, encouraging the production of immune processes that suppress tumour development and metastasis.

Tumor cells experience activation and rapid proliferation, cling to a variety of other cell types and cell matrices, and penetrate organs, just like normal cells do during embryogenesis. Changes in cellular glycosylation patterns frequently accompany embryonic development and cellular activation in vertebrates, as discussed in Chapter 34. Therefore, it is not surprising that changes in glycosylation are a common component of malignant transformation and tumour growth. The earliest proof came from studying the improved binding of plant lectins to animal tumour cells (such ConA and WGA). The size of metabolically tagged glycopeptides was also shown to generally increase when cells underwent in vitro transformation. Researchers began using monoclonal antibodies after their development in the late 1970s.

In recent studies, we have shown for the first time that changes in glycosylation in tumour cells chronically exposed to chemotherapeutic agents are able to connect both the MDR phenotype and the EMT process. This is because the chemoresistant human cancer cell lines also displayed increased cell motility and altered expression of epa, in addition to changes in the expression and/or activity of efflux pumps from the ABC superfamily (ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2). These results support the notion that unique glycan structures expressed by transformed cells are closely related to the acquisition of the MDR phenotype and the activation of the EMT process, which have been thought to be essential for invasion and metastasis.

Cancer Clinical Research peer reviewed, open access periodical dedicated to publish the clinical advancements in the cancer research and therapy providing end-to-end solutions, from diagnosis thorough various stages of cancer therapy, pharmaceutical advancements, drug delivery, clinical trials, rehabilitation and care.

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Journal of Cancer Clinical Research