This study aimed to identify novel serum biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer by comprehensively analyzing sulfated N-glycans. Conventional biomarkers such as CA15-3 and CEA lack sensitivity and specificity, underscoring the need for more reliable molecular indicators.
To address this challenge, the researchers employed a glycoblotting-based “sulfoglycomics” workflow, which enables efficient capture and enrichment of glycans through hydrazide-functionalized beads (Glycan Purification and Labeling kit BlotGlyco™ from Sumitomo Bakelite). Combined with weak anion exchange separation and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, this method allowed for the selective detection and quantification of low-abundance sulfated glycans that are otherwise difficult to analyze.
Serum samples from 76 Ethiopian breast cancer patients and 20 healthy controls were examined. The study identified 13 sulfated N-glycans, of which seven mono-sulfated species were significantly elevated in breast cancer sera, particularly in early-stage (I–II) cases, achieving diagnostic accuracies (AUC ≥ 0.8). These glycans frequently exhibited Lewis-type and sialylated terminal epitopes, structural features associated with cancer cell adhesion, immune evasion, and metastasis.
The findings highlight the clinical and social significance of glycomic profiling as a non-invasive approach for early cancer detection. By leveraging glycoblotting, this study provides the first comprehensive quantitative analysis of serum sulfated N-glycans, revealing promising biomarker candidates and offering deeper insight into cancer-associated glycosylation changes. The methodology and results not only enhance our understanding of breast cancer biology but also lay a foundation for applying glycan-based diagnostics across diverse diseases.

* For details, please refer to the paper

The figure illustrates the upregulation patterns of sulfated N-glycans across different breast cancer stages, demonstrating that specific glycans are distinctly elevated in early-stage breast cancer.