New Insights on Sialic Acid and Sialylated Glycans in the Tumorigenic Process

Sialic acid and sialylated glycans, a diverse group of carbohydrates present on the outer cell surface, play significant roles in various biological processes, including cell-cell interactions, signaling, and immune responses. Dysregulation of sialic acid metabolism, sialyltrasnferases, aberrant expression, and functional group modification on sialic acids have been implicated in various pathological conditions, including cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that through host-like cell-surface sialylation mimicry, cancers differentially exploit Sia, its various functional group modifications, and the associated proteins in perpetuation of unique survival strategies including several aspects of cancer progression, including tumor initiation, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastatic spread. Changes in the expression patterns of specific sialylated glycans have also been associated with certain cancer types and stages, showing promise as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection, risk stratification, and monitoring treatment response.

Approaches such as glycoengineering, glycan-based vaccines, and sialidase inhibitors offer potential avenues for modulating sialic acid metabolism and disrupting cancer-related functions of sialylated glycans. Understanding the efficacy, safety, and potential synergistic effects of these therapeutic interventions will contribute to the development of novel anti-cancer strategies.

This Research Topic aims to explore the involvement of sialic acid and sialylated glycans in the tumorigenic process, shedding light on their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer.

We invite researchers to contribute Original Research Articles, Reviews, Brief Research Reports, Case Reports, Clinical Trials, and Perspectives that address the various aspects of sialic acid and sialylated glycans in cancer biology, offering valuable insights into their clinical significance and therapeutic potential. We are especially interested in studies unveiling, but not limited to:
- sialic acid modifications and their influence in tumorigenic processes
- sialyltransferases role in tumor development and progression
- influence of sialic acid and sialylated glycans on cancer cell signaling and interactions with the tumor microenvironment
- sialic acid and sialylated glycans as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer
- new therapeutic strategies targeting sialic acid and sialylated glycans in cancer

Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.