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HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2014, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (8): 739-746.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2014.0739

• Reviews •     Next Articles

The impact of polysialic acid (PSA) and polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) on tumor and cell signaling pathways

Xin Wang1, 2, Feng Guan1, 2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
    2. School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
  • Received:2014-02-17 Online:2014-08-20 Published:2013-07-19

Abstract: The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), the member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, plays an important role in regulating cell adhesion and cell communication, particularly in nervous system wiring and plasticity. Polysialic acid, which is attached to NCAM on cell surface, is a prominent regulator of neural cell migration and differentiation during nervous system development. It has been demonstrated that PSA and PSA-NCAM were re-expressed in some malignant tumors. It was indicated that PSA and PSA-NCAM were tightly associated with cell adhesion, migration and invasion, and mediated tumor development and progression through certain cell signaling pathways. Here, we summarize the functional role of PSA, PSA-NCAM and related cell signaling pathways in tumor development, progression and prognostic.

Key words: polysialic acid, NCAM, signaling pathway, tumor