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….Y
MARCADORES
TUMORALES
GLICÁNICOS

estructural
con
antígenos
de
algunos
grupos
sanguíneos,
que
(sin
ser
estrictamente

específicos)
resultan
de
gran
utilidad
para
el
diagnóstico,
pronóstico
y,
sobre
todo,

para
el
seguimiento
del
estado
de
salud
de
pacientes
de
diversos
tipos
de
cáncer.

También,
ciertas
lectinas
pueden
considerarse
como
indicadores
de
estos

trastornos,
aunque
no
como
auténticos
marcadores
tumorales.

Palabras
clave:
Glicopatología;
Glicoterapéutica;
Marcadores
tumorales;

Marcadores
tumorales
glicánicos;
Glicoconjugados;
Anomalías
por

almacenamiento
causadas
por
enzimas
lisosómicas;
Desórdenes
congénitos
de

glicosilación;
Glicosilación
y
Terapéutica.

ABSTRACT

Glicopatology,
Glycotherapeutic
and
Glycan
Tumor
Markers

The
disregulation
(due
to
genetic
or
acquired
factors)
of
the
activity
of
certain

glycosyltransferases,
glicosidases
or
isomerases
which
catalyse
the
metabolic

processes
related
to
the
glycoconjugates
–molecules
resulting
of
the
link
between

carbohydrates
and
proteins
or
between
carbohydrates
and
lipids-­-
produces

anomalies
in
the
chemical
structure
of
these
compounds
(generally
truncated

structures
or
aberrant
chain
branching)
who
preclude
their
normal
biological

functions.
So,
Lysosomal
Storage
Disorders
(by
abnormalities
in
the
catabolic
way)

or
Congenital
Disorders
of
Glycosylation
(by
abnormalities
in
the
biosynthetic
route)

arise.
Infectious
processes,
either
by
viruses
(influenza,
AIDS,
etc.)
or
bacteria
(E.

coli,
Streptococcus
sp.,
Helicobacter
pylori,
etc.)
or
fungi
or
protozoa,
as
well
as

cancer
or
immune
processes,
belong
to
the
chapter
of
the
Glycopathology.

Fortunately,
several
efficient
agents
(which
are
glycoconjugates)
are
now
available

to
prevent
or
heal
the
above-­-mentioned
illness
or
to
maintain
the
health
state
of

humans.
So,
aminoglycosidic
antibiotics,
enzymatic
inhibitors,
enzymes
(such
as

glucocerebrosidase),
polysaccharide
conjugate
vaccines,
anticoagulants
(heparin),

chondroitin-­-sulphate
or
hormones
(erytropoetin),
etc.
Lately,
the
biotechnological

techniques
are
employed
for
the
preparation
or
the
improvement
of
these
drugs.

Furthermore,
there
are
several
Glycan
Tumor
Markers,
with
structures
related
to

those
of
certain
antigens
of
blood
groups,
which
are
very
useful
for
the
diagnostic,

prognostic
and,
mainly,
for
the
follow-­-up
of
cancer
patients
(even
if
they
are
not

strictly
specific
for
this
illness).
Also,
certain
lectins
might
be
considered
as

indicative
of
this
disorder,
although
not
true
markers.

Keywords:
Glicopathology;
Glycotherapeutics;
Tomo(u)r
Markers;
Glycan

Tumo(u)r
markers;
Lysosomal
Storage
Disorders;
Congenital
Disorders
of

Glicosylation;
Glicosylation
and
Therapeutics.

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