Elevation of ST6Gal I activity in malignant and transitional tissue in human colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the activity of CMP-NeuAc:Galbeta(1,4)GlcNAc sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) in colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
ST6Gal I activity was determined in healthy, transitional and tumor tissues from the same patient using asialotransferrin and N-acetyllactosamine as acceptors.


RESULTS
ST6Gal I activities with asialotransferrin (n = 85) and N-acetyllactosamine (n = 40) as acceptors were statistically significantly enhanced in CRC tissue compared with healthy mucosa from the same patient (p = 0.001). Using transitional tissue (n = 27), enhancement versus healthy tissue was observed (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between ST6Gal I activity with N-acetyllactosamine and asialotransferrin in healthy (n = 32), tumorous (n = 32) and transitional tissue (n = 27), supporting the fact that the same enzyme was detected using both acceptors. Furthermore, we studied the relationship between some patients' clinicopathological features and ST6Gal I activity. Although the differences were not statistically significant, the levels of ST6Gal I activity in tumorous and transitional tissues varied with the histological grade of the tumor; however, we failed to find a correlation with the AJCC tumor classification.


CONCLUSIONS
This work reports enhanced ST6Gal I activity in tumor and transitional tissues from CRC patients. However, our overall results suggest that ST6Gal I activity is not indicative of the patient's outcome.
Vázquez-Martín
Cristina
C
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Spain.
Gil-Martín
Emilio
E
Fernández-Briera
Almudena
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000737:chemistry; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000737:chemistry; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase
D000606:Amino Sugars; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014168:Transferrin; C017031:asialotransferrins; C000458:N-acetyllactosamine; D012799:Sialyltransferases; D009439:Neuraminidase; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase