AUTHOR=Yan Xiaohan , Ren Wenhao , Zhu Zhuang , Li Shaoming , Shi Rui , Sun Kai , Zhi Keqian , Gao Ling , Zheng Jingjing 

TITLE=Insights into O-GlcNAcylation and programmed cell death in cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1560491

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2025.1560491

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=O-GlcNAcylation is an essential post-translational modification that adds O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to numerous proteins’ serine or threonine residues. Several studies have indicated O-GlcNAcylation regulates various processes related to cancer, including signal transduction, transcription, cell division, metabolism, and cytoskeletal regulation. Programmed cell death (PCD) is a regulated and organized form of cell death controlled by genes, including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. As research on PCD has become increasingly in-depth, a potential link between O-GlcNAcylation and PCD has emerged. This review will focus on the complex relationships between O-GlcNAcylation and different PCD pathways, which are closely tied to the onset, progression, and resistance of cancer. By clarifying the relationship between O-GlcNAcylation and PCD, we aim to create a theoretical basis for improving anti-cancer treatments, with promising potential for clinical application.