Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Análisis de glicanos
Glycan analysis (GLY-kan uh-NA-lih-sis)
A study of the types of carbohydrate (sugar) molecules attached to proteins in cells. Proteins with carbohydrate molecules are called glycoproteins. Glycan analysis is being studied to find out if glycoproteins on cancer cells may be used as biomarkers for cancer.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.