Title:Functional Role of Glycosphingolipids in Cancer
Volume: 28
Issue: 20
Author(s): Changping Zheng, Marco Terreni, Matthieu Sollogoub and Yongmin Zhang*
Affiliation:
- Sorbonne Universite, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moleculaire (UMR 8232), 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris,France
Keywords:
Glycosphingolipids, tumor-associated antigens, GSL signaling, carbohydrates, medicinal chemistry,
cancer.
Abstract: Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components on animal cell membranes,
and exposed on the outer surface. Various studies have demonstrated that they play key roles
in cell proliferation, adhesion, motility and differentiation. Usually, the specific types of GSLs
are expressed more highly in tumors than in normal tissues, which are known as tumorassociated
antigens. It has been revealed that most tumor cells show altered GSLs patterns on
their surface, abnormal GSLs signaling and biosynthesis, which together play a major role in
tumor development. Tumor-associated GSL antigens have been used in the development of
antitumor vaccines. There is no doubt that GSLs play a crucial role in tumor progression and
would be a promising target for cancer treatment.
