唾液酸（SA）是一种九碳骨架糖，通过O-连接糖基化或N-连接糖基化中介的细胞间或细胞外基质相互作用中，将糖链、糖蛋白和糖脂的末端连接到重要分子上。所有的过程都需要唾液酸转移酶（STs）的唾液酸化和唾液酸酶（也称为神经氨酸酶，NEU）的去唾液酸化之间的平衡。虽然唾液酸化在癌症发展和进展中的作用尚存在不确定性，但至少有四种机制被提出，包括免疫系统的监视作用，细胞凋亡和细胞死亡的修饰，癌细胞和肿瘤相关微环境的细胞表面改变导致的癌变、生长和转移。本综述主要关注糖基化在妇科器官相关癌症，如卵巢癌、宫颈癌和子宫内膜癌中的作用。证据表明，涉及细胞表面成分（肿瘤细胞和宿主微环境中的细胞）的唾液酸化在癌变（逃避免疫监视）和转移（转移）中起着重要作用（从癌症原发部位脱落，进入循环系统，从循环系统中逸出到远处部位，最终在新生长病变上沉积和建立，完成转移过程）。此外，糖基化的修饰可以增强或减轻癌症行为的侵袭性特征。所有这些都提示，对癌症上的糖基化有更多的了解可能为近期癌症治疗提供一个新的治疗领域。版权所有 © 2023，由Elsevier B.V.出版。

Sialic acids (SA) are a kind of nine-carbon backbone sugars, serving as important molecules in cell-to-cell or cell-to-extra-cellular matrix interaction mediated by either O-linked glycosylation or N-linked glycosylation to attach the terminal end of glycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. All processes need a balance between sialylation by sialyltransferase (STs) and desialylation by sialidases (also known as neuraminidases, NEU). Although there is much in uncertainty whether the sialyation plays in cancer development and progression, at least four mechanisms are proposed, including surveillance of immune system, modification of cellular apoptosis and cell death, alteration of cellular surface of cancer cells and tumor associated microenvironment responsible carcinogenesis, growth and metastases. The current review focuses on the role of glycosylation in gynecologic organ-related cancers, such as ovarian cancer, cervical and endometrial cancer. Evidence shows that sialylation involving in the alternation of surface components of cells (tumor and cells in the microenvironment of host) plays an important role for carcinogenesis (escape from immunosurveillance) and dissemination (metastasis) (sloughing from the original site of cancer, migration into the circulation system, extravasation from the circulatory system to the distant site and finally deposition and establishment on the new growth lesion to complete the metastatic process). Additionally, modification of glycosylation can enhance or alleviate the aggressive characteristics of the cancer behaviors. All suggest that more understandings of glycosylation on cancers may provide a new therapeutic field to assist the cancer treatment in the near future.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.