Prognostic value of tumoral sialyltransferase expression and circulating E-selectin concentrations in node-negative breast cancer patients.
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.
Hebbar
M
M
Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire Humaine, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France. m-hebbar@chru-lille.fr
Krzewinski-Recchi
M A
MA
Hornez
L
L
Verdière
A
A
Harduin-Lepers
A
A
Bonneterre
J
J
Delannoy
P
P
Peyrat
J P
JP
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
D019040:E-Selectin; D012799:Sialyltransferases