Syndecan

**Semantic type:** Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein

**Definition:** The syndecans are a family of cell-surface heparan sulphate proteoglycans that regulate cell behavior by binding extracellular matrix molecules such as growth factors. The syndecan family has four members, of which syndecan-1 is the most studied and best characterized. In squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck low syndecan-1 expression has been associated with unfavorable overall survival and can be used as a prognostic factor.

**Synonyms:** - Syndecans