title: Enhanced activity of CMP-neuAc:Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc:alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase in metastasizing human colorectal tumor tissue and serum of tumor patients.
abstract: The activity of sialyltransferases with different linkage specificities, of a Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc:alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase and a Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc:alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase, was studied in human colorectal tumor tissue from surgical specimens, normal mucosa, liver and liver metastases, and serum of patients suffering from colorectal carcinomas. While alpha 2,3-specific activity was equally high in tumor and mucosa samples, the activity of the alpha 2,6-specific enzyme was increased in tumor tissue and particularly in metastasizing tumors. Also, compared to healthy individuals, serum of patients suffering from metastasizing tumors contained a significantly higher activity of the alpha 2,6-specific enzyme. These results demonstrate that specific sialyltransferase isoforms are expressed in metastasizing tumors and that determination of such isoforms may be a new means for tumor detection and monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie II, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gessner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quentmaier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kemmner
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000032:analysis*; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012799:Sialyltransferases; C029156:N-acetyllactosaminide alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase