The overexpression of complex gangliosides in cancers is usually correlated with the upregulation of ST8SIA1 gene expression, which encodes the key enzyme for complex ganglioside synthesis, GD3 synthase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminate, GM3 α2,8-sialyltransferase, or ST8Sia I, EC 2.4.99.8, GD3S). Here, ST8SIA1 is linked to cancer.