GlycoRNA in Cancer: Biogenesis, Mechanistic Links to Tumor Biology, and Clinical Translation

GlycoRNAs are an emerging class of glycoconjugates in which selected small noncoding RNAs carry glycans and can be displayed at the cell surface. Their discovery has expanded the conceptual scope of glycobiology by introducing RNA as a previously unrecognized glycosylated scaffold and by placing it within the extracellular glycan-rich interface involved in cell communication, immune regulation, and disease-associated signaling. Increasing evidence suggests that glycoRNAs may participate in several biologically important processes, including extracellular signaling, immune modulation, and intercellular communication, and may have particular relevance to cancer biology. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of glycoRNA biogenesis, molecular features, detection strategies, and biological functions, with a focus on their potential roles in tumor progression and their translational promise as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.