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Review
. 2022 Dec 15;12(12):3177.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12123177.

Protein Glycosylation as Biomarkers in Gynecologic Cancers

Hung Shen  1 , Chia-Yi Lee  1 , Chi-Hau Chen  2
Affiliations
Review

Protein Glycosylation as Biomarkers in Gynecologic Cancers

Hung Shen et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

Gynecologic cancers are the leading cause of death in women. Endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer are the three main types of gynecologic cancers. Poor prognoses and high mortality rates of advanced-stage cancer are still challenges of all three types. Diagnostic tools for early cancer detection could be the cornerstone for further cancer treatment and prevention. Glycosylation plays a vital role in cell proliferation, adhesion, motility, and angiogenesis, and is aberrantly expressed in cancer cells. Alterations of glycosylation may represent promising biomarkers with potential diagnostic and monitoring applications, as well as disease prognosis. Many glycosylated biomarkers, including glycoprotein, glycan, and enzyme, were discovered and well-studied for application in gynecologic cancers. Some of them have been developed as targets for cancer treatment. The use of certain biomarkers for diagnostics and monitoring of gynecologic cancers has clinical advantages, as it is quantitative, comparable, convenient, and inexpensive. However, one of the single markers have sufficient sensitivity for the screening of gynecologic cancers. In this review, we introduced the details of glycosylation and the current application of glycosylated biomarkers in these three cancers. Moreover, we also reviewed the different roles of each biomarker in other cancers and aimed to understand these glycosylated biomarkers comprehensively.

Keywords: biomarker; cervical cancer; endometrial cancer; glycosylation; ovarian cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Two major types of protein glycosylation. N-glycans consist of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) attached by a β1-glycosidic linkage to the amino group of asparagine (Asn). Mucin-type O-glycosylation, consisting of O-glycans attachment via O-linked Nacetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) to the hydroxyl oxygen of serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) residues.
Figure 2
Figure 2
FDA-approved and potential new biomarkers of gynecologic cancers.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The O-linked glycosylation biosynthetic pathway. Cancer-associated structures are highlighted with blue boxes. With the catalyst of polypeptide-GalNAc transferases (GALNTs), a single N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue is transferred to serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) residues of specific proteins, forming the Tn antigen, which finally forms four core structures referred to as Core 1 through Core 4.
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