Similarly, ST6Gal1 is reported to directly α2,6 sialylate TNFR1 and block the TNFα-induced apoptotic pathway in macrophages (Liu et al., 2011a), rectal cancer (Smithson et al., 2022), and pancreatic and ovarian cancer (Holdbrooks et al., 2018). This evidence concerns the gene ST6GAL1 and rectal cancer.