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.
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