Sialyl-Lewis X (sLeX)

Sialyl-Lewis X (sLeX) is a tetrasaccharide carbohydrate antigen typically found on the surface of glycolipids and glycoproteins. It serves as a critical functional epitope for selectin-mediated cell adhesion, particularly in the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation. In the context of oncology, sLeX is frequently overexpressed on epithelial cancer cells, where it acts as a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) that facilitates metastasis by allowing cancer cells to adhere to the vascular endothelium via E-selectin. Biologically, sLeX expression on integrins is closely associated with the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that coordinates intracellular signaling pathways governing cell migration and survival. Therapeutic strategies targeting sLeX include selectin inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies designed to disrupt these adhesive interactions and inhibit metastatic progression.

Other names

Sialyl-Lewis XsLeXCD15sSialyl-CD15Stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1) sialylated form

Competitive inhibition of selectin binding to sLeX epitopes