Previous Article in Journal
Age-Dependent Redistribution of the Life-Important Enzyme in the Retina: Adult Müller Glial Cells’ Endfeet Lack Spermine Synthase Expression
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Biomolecules
Volume 15
Issue 10
10.3390/biom15101375
biomolecules-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Dysregulated Sialylation in Cancer: From Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Siglec-Targeted Therapeutics

by
Yuecheng Zhang
1,
Zhengyao Gao
2,
Yuhan Zhang
2,
Siqin Ai
3,
Wenyan Li
4,* and
Lingbo Sun
2,*
1
Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology and Detection of Yan’an, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
2
Medical College of Yan’an University, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
3
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, School of Medical Technology, Xi’an Medical College, Xi’an 710309, China
4
Medical College of Xi’an Pei Hua University, Xi’an Pei Hua University, Xi’an 710125, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomolecules 2025, 15(10), 1375; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101375 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 14 August 2025 / Revised: 14 September 2025 / Accepted: 25 September 2025 / Published: 27 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Sialic acid, typically positioned at the terminal ends of glycoprotein or glycolipid chains via glycosyltransferase activity, is indispensable for intercellular recognition and signal transduction. Aberrant sialylation has been implicated in disrupted cell communication and oncogenic signaling, contributing to carcinogenesis. Consequently, targeting sialic acid metabolism has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This review first delineates the physiological biosynthesis of sialic acid and molecular mechanisms underlying its pathological dysregulation. We then examine the sialic acid–Siglec axis as an immune checkpoint in cancer immunotherapy, highlighting its functional convergence and divergence from the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Furthermore, we elucidate how aberrant sialylation drives malignant transformation. Finally, we synthesize current therapeutic strategies targeting the sialic acid–Siglec axis, with particular emphasis on implementing nanomaterial-based platforms in clinical translation. These advances may yield novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets for glycobiology-guided precision medicine.
Keywords: sialic acid; sialic acid-siglec axis; TME; therapeutic sialic acid; sialic acid-siglec axis; TME; therapeutic

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, Y.; Gao, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Ai, S.; Li, W.; Sun, L. Dysregulated Sialylation in Cancer: From Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Siglec-Targeted Therapeutics. Biomolecules 2025, 15, 1375. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101375

AMA Style

Zhang Y, Gao Z, Zhang Y, Ai S, Li W, Sun L. Dysregulated Sialylation in Cancer: From Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Siglec-Targeted Therapeutics. Biomolecules. 2025; 15(10):1375. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101375

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Yuecheng, Zhengyao Gao, Yuhan Zhang, Siqin Ai, Wenyan Li, and Lingbo Sun. 2025. "Dysregulated Sialylation in Cancer: From Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Siglec-Targeted Therapeutics" Biomolecules 15, no. 10: 1375. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101375

APA Style

Zhang, Y., Gao, Z., Zhang, Y., Ai, S., Li, W., & Sun, L. (2025). Dysregulated Sialylation in Cancer: From Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Siglec-Targeted Therapeutics. Biomolecules, 15(10), 1375. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101375

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop