Glycosaminoglycans-binding cytokines and tumor

Abstract

Glycosaminoglycans(GAGs) are a group of important large biological molecules containing a hexosamine and an uronic acid component.Glycosaminoglycans-binding cytokines,such as vascular endothelial growth factor,midkine,osteopontin,heparanase,and basic fibroblast growth factor,can be found on cell surface and extracellular matrix.In addition to various biological functions,GAGs-binding cytokines are also closely related to tumor development and progression.GAGs-binding cytokines are gaining increasing attention in molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy of tumors.