Cell biology

Metastasis

Tumor progression

Biology

Angiogenesis

Stromal cell

Cancer research

Biochemistry

Glycosylation

Genetics

Tumor microenvironment

Tumor cells

Cancer

Cells

Just as oncogene activation and tumor suppressor loss are hallmarks of tumor development, emerging evidence indicates that tumor microenvironment-mediated changes in glycosylation play a crucial functional role in tumor progression and metastasis. Hypoxia and inflammatory events regulate protein glycosylation in tumor cells and associated stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, which facilitates tumor progression and also modulates a patient's response to anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the impact of altered glycosylation on angiogenic signaling and endothelial cell adhesion, and the critical consequences of these changes in tumor behavior.

Glycosylation in the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Tumor Angiogenesis and Metastasis