[Glycosyltransferase genes as tumor marker].
Core 2 beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase(C2GnT) and alpha 1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase are glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of mucin type glycoprotein(O-glycan). The transcripts of C2GnT, which forms core 2-branched O-glycan(Gal beta 1-->3 (GlcNAc beta 1-->6)GalNAc alpha-->Ser/Thr), were detected approximately in 2/3 cases of patients with colorectal or lung cancers. Then, carcinoma cells expressing C2GnT mRNA were shown to significantly progress compared with those lacking the C2GnT mRNA, indicating an important role of the core 2-branched O-glycan in tumor progression. On the other hand, gland mucous cell-type mucin secreted from the normal gastric mucosa characteristically contains GlcNAc alpha 1-->4Gal beta-->R structure, and the alpha 4GnT is critical for the biosynthesis of this unique glycan. This enzyme is also detected in gastric cancer cells but not in mononuclear cell fraction of the peripheral blood. Thus, the quantitative RT-PCR method targeted to alpha 4GnT mRNA will be useful for the detection of circulating gastric cancer cells in the peripheral blood.
Nakayama
Jun
J
Department of Pathology, Shinshu University School of Medicine.
Shimizu
Fumiaki
F
Katsuyama
Tsutomu
T
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D016695:Glycosyltransferases