The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer
The plethora of information about the expression of cancer cell-associated gangliosides, their role(s) in signal transduction, and their potential usefulness in the development of cancer treatments makes this an appropriate time to review these enigmatic glycosphingolipids. Evidence, reflecting the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/22/5362 |
| _version_ | 1797459788584452096 |
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| author | Cara-Lynne Schengrund |
| author_facet | Cara-Lynne Schengrund |
| author_sort | Cara-Lynne Schengrund |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The plethora of information about the expression of cancer cell-associated gangliosides, their role(s) in signal transduction, and their potential usefulness in the development of cancer treatments makes this an appropriate time to review these enigmatic glycosphingolipids. Evidence, reflecting the work of many, indicates that (1) expression of specific gangliosides, not generally found in high concentrations in most normal human cells, can be linked to certain types of cancer. (2) Gangliosides can affect the ability of cells to interact either directly or indirectly with growth factor receptors, thereby changing such things as a cell’s mobility, rate of proliferation, and metastatic ability. (3) Anti-ganglioside antibodies have been tested, with some success, as potential treatments for certain cancers. (4) Cancer-associated gangliosides shed into the circulation can (a) affect immune cell responsiveness either positively or negatively, (b) be considered as diagnostic markers, and (c) be used to look for recurrence. (5) Cancer registries enable investigators to evaluate data from sufficient numbers of patients to obtain information about potential therapies. Despite advances that have been made, a discussion of possible approaches to identifying additional treatment strategies to inhibit metastasis, responsible for the majority of deaths of cancer patients, as well as for treating therapy-resistant tumors, is included. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:56:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17801a38ab2d41fe95e4fbeada0bdee4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:56:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-17801a38ab2d41fe95e4fbeada0bdee42023-11-24T14:34:06ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-11-011522536210.3390/cancers15225362The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in CancerCara-Lynne Schengrund0Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USAThe plethora of information about the expression of cancer cell-associated gangliosides, their role(s) in signal transduction, and their potential usefulness in the development of cancer treatments makes this an appropriate time to review these enigmatic glycosphingolipids. Evidence, reflecting the work of many, indicates that (1) expression of specific gangliosides, not generally found in high concentrations in most normal human cells, can be linked to certain types of cancer. (2) Gangliosides can affect the ability of cells to interact either directly or indirectly with growth factor receptors, thereby changing such things as a cell’s mobility, rate of proliferation, and metastatic ability. (3) Anti-ganglioside antibodies have been tested, with some success, as potential treatments for certain cancers. (4) Cancer-associated gangliosides shed into the circulation can (a) affect immune cell responsiveness either positively or negatively, (b) be considered as diagnostic markers, and (c) be used to look for recurrence. (5) Cancer registries enable investigators to evaluate data from sufficient numbers of patients to obtain information about potential therapies. Despite advances that have been made, a discussion of possible approaches to identifying additional treatment strategies to inhibit metastasis, responsible for the majority of deaths of cancer patients, as well as for treating therapy-resistant tumors, is included.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/22/5362gangliosidelipid raftsgrowth factorsmultivalent oligosaccharide ligandsglycocalyx |
| spellingShingle | Cara-Lynne Schengrund The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer Cancers ganglioside lipid rafts growth factors multivalent oligosaccharide ligands glycocalyx |
| title | The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer |
| title_full | The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer |
| title_fullStr | The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer |
| title_short | The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer |
| title_sort | ying and yang of ganglioside function in cancer |
| topic | ganglioside lipid rafts growth factors multivalent oligosaccharide ligands glycocalyx |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/22/5362 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caralynneschengrund theyingandyangofgangliosidefunctionincancer AT caralynneschengrund yingandyangofgangliosidefunctionincancer |