Alpha1,2fucosylation is a superior predictor of postoperative prognosis for colorectal cancer compared with blood group A, B, or sialyl Lewis X antigen generated within colorectal tumor tissues.
BACKGROUND
We have previously demonstrated tumor-specific alpha1,2fucosylation, which is associated with resistance of tumor cells to anticancer treatment in human colorectal tumor tissues. By using the YB-2 monoclonal antibody, the resulting products have been identified as Y, Le(b), and H type 2 antigens in colorectal tumor tissues.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analyses of colorectal cancer tissues (74 specimens) were performed with a newly established mouse monoclonal antibody, YB-3 specifically recognizing H disaccharide (Fucalpha1,2Galbeta) structures, and anti-A, anti-B, YB-2, and anti-sialyl Lewis X (SLX) antibodies, together with the analyses of glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of ABH antigens in the same tissues.


RESULTS
The YB-3 antibody enabled us to detect colorectal tumors, particularly tumors in the distal large intestine and the rectum, with high sensitivity (74.3%) and specificity (100%). From immunohistochemical and enzymatic analyses of colorectal tissues, we found that once alpha1,2fucosylation had proceeded in tumor tissues, blood group A or B antigen was also synthesized in approximately half of the tissues of A or B blood type, but not in their normal tissues. A correlation of survival rate with immunostaining of tissues was found only by YB-3 antibody and not by anti-A, anti-B, or anti-SLX antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
As a predictor of postoperative prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer, immunodetection of alpha1,2fucosylated antigens with the YB-3 antibody seemed to be superior to blood groups A, B, or SLX antigen in colorectal tumor tissues.
Tsuboi
Kaori
K
Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
Asao
Takayuki
T
Ide
Munenori
M
Hashimoto
Shinji
S
Noguchi
Kasumi
K
Kominato
Yoshihiko
Y
Saniabadi
Abby R
AR
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
Yazawa
Shin
S
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005646:Fucosyl Galactose alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase / Q000032:analysis; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000032:analysis; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004187:Disaccharides; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; C112685:fucosyl-1-2-galactose; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D005646:Fucosyl Galactose alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase