title: Prognostic value of tumoral sialyltransferase expression and circulating E-selectin concentrations in node-negative breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A crucial step in the metastatic process is the interaction between the endothelial molecule E-selectin and its tumoral ligands sialyl-Lewis- and sialyl-Lewis. Sialyltranferases are involved in the biosynthesis of these ligands. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of tumoral sialyltransferase expression and of circulating soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in node-negative breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a multiplex RT-PCR method, we measured the expression of five sialyltransferases (ST3Gal III, ST6Gal I, ST3Gal IV, ST3Gal I and ST3Gal II) in tumors of 135 surgically treated node-negative breast cancer patients. Circulating sE-selectin concentrations were measured by an ELISA method prior to surgery. We also analyzed tumor size, histoprognostic grading and steroid hormone receptor status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up was 7.5 years. Expression of estrogen receptors was associated with a good prognosis for relapse-free survival in univariate analysis. A high ST3Gal III/ST6Gal I ratio and a high sE-selectin concentration were associated with a bad prognosis for relapse-free survival and overall survival in univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, tumoral sialyltransferase expression and circulating sE-selectin concentrations had prognostic value in patients with node-negative breast cancer. This result provides further evidence for the important role of these agents in the metastatic process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire Humaine, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France. m-hebbar@chru-lille.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebbar
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Krzewinski-Recchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hornez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdière
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harduin-Lepers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonneterre
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delannoy
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peyrat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D019040:E-Selectin; D012799:Sialyltransferases