[Carbohydrate antigens as cell adhesion molecules].

Some cell surface carbohydrate determinants such as sialyl Lewis A and sialyl Lewis X serve as ligands for the cell adhesion molecules called selectins. These carbohydrate determinants are involved in the adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelial cells during the course of hematogenous metastasis of cancer. This review considers primary adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells mediated by carbohydrate-selectin interaction followed by the secondary involvement of the classical cell adhesion molecules called integrins in extravasation of cancer cells. Alteration in the glycosyltransferase activities that induce the accelerated synthesis of abnormal carbohydrate determinants on cancer cells is also discussed.