Glycoproteins and Cancer Biomarkers

Glycoproteins or glycosylated proteins are carbohydrates (oligosaccharide chains or glycan’s) linked proteins and execute important functions in the biological systems, such as embryonic development, cell-to-cell recognition, adhesion, pathogen identification and immune functions. It is evident that the alteration of glycoproteins in cells are associated with a number of human diseases, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory diseases as well as immunodeficiency diseases. Recent advances in modern technologies in cancer treatment are promising. However, researchers and clinicians are still searching for appropriate biomarkers for the early detection and management of patients with cancer. Altered glycoprotein levels are associated with critical events in cancer pathogenesis and progression. Also, abnormal glycosylation of protein is a common regulatory event in carcinogenesis, therefore, aberrant glycosylation could act as a promising resource in identifying a cancer biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of patients with cancers. This chapter summarizes the major clinically approved glycoproteins utilized for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of the treatment response of patients with cancers.