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Filipsky F, Läubli H. Regulation of sialic acid metabolism in cancer. Carbohydr Res 2024; 539:109123. [PMID: 38669826 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2024.109123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Sialic acid, the terminal structure of cell surface glycans, has essential functions in regulating immune response, cell-to-cell communication, and cell adhesion. More importantly, an increased level of sialic acid, termed hypersialylation, has emerged as a commonly observed phenotype in cancer. Therefore, targeting sialic acid ligands (sialoglycans) and their receptors (Siglecs) may provide a new therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy. We highlight the complexity of the sialic acid metabolism and its involvement in malignant transformation within individual cancer subtypes. In this review, we focus on the dysregulation of sialylation, the intricate nature of sialic acid synthesis, and clinical perspective. We aim to provide a brief insight into the mechanism of hypersialylation and how our understanding of these processes can be leveraged for the development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Filipsky
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Läubli
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Switzerland; Division of Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
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2
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Schengrund CL. The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5362. [PMID: 38001622 PMCID: PMC10670608 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The plethora of information about the expression of cancer cell-associated gangliosides, their role(s) in signal transduction, and their potential usefulness in the development of cancer treatments makes this an appropriate time to review these enigmatic glycosphingolipids. Evidence, reflecting the work of many, indicates that (1) expression of specific gangliosides, not generally found in high concentrations in most normal human cells, can be linked to certain types of cancer. (2) Gangliosides can affect the ability of cells to interact either directly or indirectly with growth factor receptors, thereby changing such things as a cell's mobility, rate of proliferation, and metastatic ability. (3) Anti-ganglioside antibodies have been tested, with some success, as potential treatments for certain cancers. (4) Cancer-associated gangliosides shed into the circulation can (a) affect immune cell responsiveness either positively or negatively, (b) be considered as diagnostic markers, and (c) be used to look for recurrence. (5) Cancer registries enable investigators to evaluate data from sufficient numbers of patients to obtain information about potential therapies. Despite advances that have been made, a discussion of possible approaches to identifying additional treatment strategies to inhibit metastasis, responsible for the majority of deaths of cancer patients, as well as for treating therapy-resistant tumors, is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara-Lynne Schengrund
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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3
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Chan C, Lustig M, Jansen JHM, Garcia Villagrasa L, Raymakers L, Daamen LA, Valerius T, van Tetering G, Leusen JHW. Sialic Acids on Tumor Cells Modulate IgA Therapy by Neutrophils via Inhibitory Receptors Siglec-7 and Siglec-9. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3405. [PMID: 37444515 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with targeted therapeutic antibodies is often ineffective in long-term responses in cancer patients due to resistance mechanisms such as overexpression of checkpoint molecules. Similar to T lymphocytes, myeloid immune cells express inhibitory checkpoint receptors that interact with ligands overexpressed on cancer cells, contributing to treatment resistance. While CD47/SIRPα-axis inhibitors in combination with IgA therapy have shown promise, complete tumor eradication remains a challenge, indicating the presence of other checkpoints. We investigated hypersialylation on the tumor cell surface as a potential myeloid checkpoint and found that hypersialylated cancer cells inhibit neutrophil-mediated tumor killing through interactions with sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs). To enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) using IgA as therapeutic, we explored strategies to disrupt the interaction between tumor cell sialoglycans and Siglecs expressed on neutrophils. We identified Siglec-9 as the primary inhibitory receptor, with Siglec-7 also playing a role to a lesser extent. Blocking Siglec-9 enhanced IgA-mediated ADCC by neutrophils. Concurrent expression of multiple checkpoint ligands necessitated a multi-checkpoint-blocking approach. In certain cancer cell lines, combining CD47 blockade with desialylation improved IgA-mediated ADCC, effectively overcoming resistance that remained when blocking only one checkpoint interaction. Our findings suggest that a combination of CD47 blockade and desialylation may be necessary to optimize cancer immunotherapy, considering the upregulation of checkpoint molecules by tumor cells to evade immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chilam Chan
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Lustig
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine II, Christian Albrechts University Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - J H Marco Jansen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Garcia Villagrasa
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leon Raymakers
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lois A Daamen
- Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Regional Academic Cancer Center Utrecht, UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Valerius
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine II, Christian Albrechts University Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Geert van Tetering
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanette H W Leusen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Nag S, Mandal A, Joshi A, Jain N, Srivastava RS, Singh S, Khattri A. Sialyltransferases and Neuraminidases: Potential Targets for Cancer Treatment. Diseases 2022; 10:diseases10040114. [PMID: 36547200 PMCID: PMC9777960 DOI: 10.3390/diseases10040114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers are the leading cause of death, causing around 10 million deaths annually by 2020. The most common cancers are those affecting the breast, lungs, colon, and rectum. However, it has been noted that cancer metastasis is more lethal than just cancer incidence and accounts for more than 90% of cancer deaths. Thus, early detection and prevention of cancer metastasis have the capability to save millions of lives. Finding novel biomarkers and targets for screening, determination of prognosis, targeted therapies, etc., are ways of doing so. In this review, we propose various sialyltransferases and neuraminidases as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of the most common cancers, along with a few rare ones, on the basis of existing experimental and in silico data. This compilation of available cancer studies aiming at sialyltransferases and neuraminidases will serve as a guide for scientists and researchers working on possible targets for various cancers and will also provide data about the existing drugs which inhibit the action of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagorika Nag
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Abhimanyu Mandal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Aryaman Joshi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Neeraj Jain
- Division of Cancer Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Ravi Shanker Srivastava
- Department of Pharmacology, Career Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Lucknow 226020, India
| | - Sanjay Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Arun Khattri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-70-6811-1755
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Glycosyltransferases in Cancer: Prognostic Biomarkers of Survival in Patient Cohorts and Impact on Malignancy in Experimental Models. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092128. [PMID: 35565254 PMCID: PMC9100214 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Glycosylation changes are a main feature of cancer. Some carbohydrate epitopes and expression levels of glycosyltransferases have been used or proposed as prognostic markers, while many experimental works have investigated the role of glycosyltransferases in malignancy. Using the transcriptomic data of the 21 TCGA cohorts, we correlated the expression level of 114 glycosyltransferases with the overall survival of patients. Methods: Using the Oncolnc website, we determined the Kaplan−Meier survival curves for the patients falling in the 15% upper or lower percentile of mRNA expression of each glycosyltransferase. Results: Seventeen glycosyltransferases involved in initial steps of N- or O-glycosylation and of glycolipid biosynthesis, in chain extension and sialylation were unequivocally associated with bad prognosis in a majority of cohorts. Four glycosyltransferases were associated with good prognosis. Other glycosyltransferases displayed an extremely high predictive value in only one or a few cohorts. The top were GALNT3, ALG6 and B3GNT7, which displayed a p < 1 × 10−9 in the low-grade glioma (LGG) cohort. Comparison with published experimental data points to ALG3, GALNT2, B4GALNT1, POFUT1, B4GALT5, B3GNT5 and ST3GAL2 as the most consistently malignancy-associated enzymes. Conclusions: We identified several cancer-associated glycosyltransferases as potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
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Sha Y, Han L, Sun B, Zhao Q. Identification of a Glycosyltransferase Signature for Predicting Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment in Neuroblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:769580. [PMID: 35071226 PMCID: PMC8773256 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.769580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common solid tumors in children. Glycosyltransferases (GTs) play a crucial role in tumor development and immune escape and have been used as prognostic biomarkers in various tumors. However, the biological functions and prognostic significance of GTs in NB remain poorly understood. The expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) were collected as training and testing data. Based on a progression status, differentially expressed GTs were identified. We constructed a GTscore through support vector machine, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and Cox regression in NB, which included four prognostic GTs and was an independent prognostic risk factor for NB. Patients in the high GTscore group had an older age, MYCN amplification, advanced International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage, and high risk. Samples with high GTscores revealed high disialoganglioside (GD2) and neuron-specific enolase expression levels. In addition, a lack of immune cell infiltration was observed in the high GTscore group. This GTscore was also associated with the expression of chemokines (CCL2, CXCL9, and CXCL10) and immune checkpoint genes (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4, granzyme H, and granzyme K). A low GTscore was also linked to an enhanced response to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients, and one type of tumor was also derived from neuroectodermal cells such as NB. In conclusion, the constructed GTscore revealed the relationship between GT expression and the NB outcome, GD2 phenotype, and immune infiltration and provided novel clues for the prediction of prognosis and immunotherapy response in NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongliang Sha
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Core, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Bei Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Outpatient Office, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
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7
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Yang X, Yu H, Yang X, Kooner AS, Yuan Y, Luu B, Chen X. One-pot multienzyme (OPME) chemoenzymatic synthesis of brain ganglioside glycans with human ST3GAL II expressed in E. coli. ChemCatChem 2022; 14:e202101498. [PMID: 35784007 PMCID: PMC9249095 DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202101498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
A human sialyltransferase ST3GAL II (hST3GAL II) was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli as an active soluble fusion protein with an N-terminal maltose-binding protein (MBP) and a C-terminal hexa-histidine tag. It was used as an efficient catalyst in a one-pot multienzyme (OPME) sialylation system for high-yield production of the glycans of ganglioside GM1b and highly sialylated brain gangliosides GD1a and GT1b. Further sialylation of GM1b and GD1a glycans using a bacterial α2-8-sialyltransferase in another OPME sialylation reaction led to the formation of the glycans of GD1c and brain ganglioside GT1a, respectively. The lower reverse glycosylation activity of the recombinant hST3GAL II compared to its bacterial sialyltransferase counterpart simplifies the handling of enzymatic synthetic reactions and has an advantage for future use in automated chemoenzymatic synthetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Hai Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Anoopjit Singh Kooner
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Yue Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Bryant Luu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States,, homepage URL: https://chemistry.ucdavis.edu/people/xi-chen
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8
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Montesino B, Steenackers A, Lozano JM, Young GD, Hu N, Sackstein R, Chandler KB. Identification of α1,2-fucosylated signaling and adhesion molecules in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Glycobiology 2021; 32:441-455. [PMID: 34939118 PMCID: PMC9022907 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwab131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the world, and most cases manifest as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the prominent role of fucosylated carbohydrate antigens in tumor cell adhesion and metastasis, little is known about the functional role of fucose-modified glycoproteins in head and neck cancer pathobiology. Inactivating polymorphisms of the fut2 gene, encoding for the α1,2-fucosyltransferase FUT2, are associated with an increased incidence of head and neck cancer among tobacco users. Moreover, the presence of the α1,2-fucosylated Lewis Y epitope, with both α1,2- and α1,3-linked fucose, has been observed in head and neck cancer tumors while invasive regions lose expression, suggesting a potential role for α1,2-fucosylation in the regulation of aggressive tumor cell characteristics. Here, we report an association between fut2 expression and head and neck cancer survival, document differential surface expression of α1,2-fucosylated epitopes in a panel of normal, dysplastic, and head and neck cancer cell lines, identify a set of potentially α1,2-fucosylated signaling and adhesion molecules including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), CD44 and integrins via tandem mass spectrometry, and finally, present evidence that EGFR is among the α1,2-fucosylated and LeY-displaying proteins in head and neck cancer. This knowledge will serve as the foundation for future studies to interrogate the role of LeY-modified and α1,2-fucosylated glycoproteins in head and neck cancer pathogenesis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD029420.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Montesino
- Department of Translational Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Agata Steenackers
- Department of Translational Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Juan M Lozano
- Division of Medical and Population Health Science Education and Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Geoffrey D Young
- Miami Cancer Institute, 8900 N Kendall Dr, Miami, FL 33176, USA,Department of Surgery, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Robert Sackstein
- Department of Translational Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Translational Glycobiology Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Kevin Brown Chandler
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Tel: 305.348.9136; Fax: 305.348.0123; e-mail:
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Hugonnet M, Singh P, Haas Q, von Gunten S. The Distinct Roles of Sialyltransferases in Cancer Biology and Onco-Immunology. Front Immunol 2021; 12:799861. [PMID: 34975914 PMCID: PMC8718907 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.799861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant glycosylation is a key feature of malignant transformation. Hypersialylation, the enhanced expression of sialic acid-terminated glycoconjugates on the cell surface, has been linked to immune evasion and metastatic spread, eventually by interaction with sialoglycan-binding lectins, including Siglecs and selectins. The biosynthesis of tumor-associated sialoglycans involves sialyltransferases, which are differentially expressed in cancer cells. In this review article, we provide an overview of the twenty human sialyltransferases and their roles in cancer biology and immunity. A better understanding of the individual contribution of select sialyltransferases to the tumor sialome may lead to more personalized strategies for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolaine Hugonnet
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine (BCPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pushpita Singh
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Quentin Haas
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan von Gunten
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine (BCPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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10
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Yoneyama T, Yamamoto H, Sutoh Yoneyama M, Tobisawa Y, Hatakeyama S, Narita T, Kodama H, Momota M, Ito H, Narita S, Tsushima F, Mitsuzuka K, Yoneyama T, Hashimoto Y, Duivenvoorden W, Pinthus JH, Kakeda S, Ito A, Tsuchiya N, Habuchi T, Ohyama C. Characteristics of α2,3-sialyl N-glycosylated PSA as a biomarker for clinically significant prostate cancer in men with elevated PSA level. Prostate 2021; 81:1411-1427. [PMID: 34549452 PMCID: PMC9293073 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of glycosylated isoforms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer (PC) cells is a potential marker of their aggressiveness. We characterized the origin of α2,3-sialylated prostate-specific antigen (S23PSA) by tissue-based sialylation-related gene expression and studied the performance of S23PSA density (S23PSAD) alone and in combination with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer in men with elevated PSA. METHODS Tissue-based quantification of S23PSA and sialyltransferase and sialidase gene expression was evaluated in 71 radical prostatectomy specimens. The diagnostic performance of S23PSAD was studied in 1099 men retrospectively enrolled in a multicenter systematic biopsy (SBx) cohort. We correlated the S23PSAD with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) scores in 98 men prospectively enrolled in a single-center MRI-targeted biopsy (MRI-TBx) cohort. The primary outcome was the PC-diagnostic performance of the S23PSAD, the secondary outcome was the avoidable biopsy rate of S23PSAD combined with DRE and total PSA (tPSA), and with or without PI-RADS. RESULTS S23PSA was significantly higher in Gleason pattern 4 and 5 compared with benign prostate tissue. In the retrospective cohort, the performance of S23PSAD for detecting PC was superior to tPSA or PSA density (PSAD) (AUC: 0.7758 vs. 0.6360 and 0.7509, respectively). In the prospective cohort, S23PSAD was superior to tPSA, PSAD, and PI-RADS (AUC: 0.7725 vs. 0.5901, 0.7439 and 0.7305, respectively), and S23PSAD + PI-RADS + DRE + tPSA was superior to DRE + tPSA+PI-RADS with avoidance rate of MRI-TBx (13% vs. 1%) at 30% risk threshold. CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic performance of S23PSAD was superior to conventional strategies but comparable to mpMRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tohru Yoneyama
- Department of Glycotechnology, Center for Advanced Medical ResearchHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Hayato Yamamoto
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Mihoko Sutoh Yoneyama
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Cell BiologyOyokyo Kidney Research Institute90 Yamazaki KozawaHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Yuki Tobisawa
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Shingo Hatakeyama
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
- Department of Advanced Blood Purification TherapyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Takuma Narita
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
- Department of UrologyNational Hospital Organization Hirosaki National HospitalHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Hirotake Kodama
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
- Department of UrologyTsugaru General HospitalGoshogawaraAomoriJapan
| | - Masaki Momota
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
- Department of UrologyMutsu General HospitalMutsuAomoriJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Ito
- Department of UrologyAomori Rosai HospitalHachinoheAomoriJapan
| | - Shintaro Narita
- Department of UrologyAkita University Graduate School of MedicineAkitaJapan
| | - Fumiyasu Tsushima
- Department of RadiologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Koji Mitsuzuka
- Department of UrologyTohoku University Graduate School of MedicineSendaiMiyagiJapan
| | - Takahiro Yoneyama
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Yasuhiro Hashimoto
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | | | | | - Shingo Kakeda
- Department of RadiologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
| | - Akihiro Ito
- Department of UrologyTohoku University Graduate School of MedicineSendaiMiyagiJapan
| | - Norihiko Tsuchiya
- Department of UrologyYamagata University Faculty of MedicineYamagataJapan
| | - Tomonori Habuchi
- Department of UrologyAkita University Graduate School of MedicineAkitaJapan
| | - Chikara Ohyama
- Department of UrologyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
- Department of Advanced Blood Purification TherapyHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiAomoriJapan
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11
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Glycation Interferes with the Expression of Sialyltransferases in Meningiomas. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123298. [PMID: 34943806 PMCID: PMC8699175 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningiomas are the most common non-malignant intracranial tumors and prefer, like most tumors, anaerobic glycolysis for energy production (Warburg effect). This anaerobic glycolysis leads to an increased synthesis of the metabolite methylglyoxal (MGO) or glyoxal (GO), which is known to react with amino groups of proteins. This reaction is called glycation, thereby building advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In this study, we investigated the influence of glycation on sialylation in two meningioma cell lines, representing the WHO grade I (BEN-MEN-1) and the WHO grade III (IOMM-Lee). In the benign meningioma cell line, glycation led to differences in expression of sialyltransferases (ST3GAL1/2/3/5/6, ST6GAL1/2, ST6GALNAC2/6, and ST8SIA1/2), which are known to play a role in tumor progression. We could show that glycation of BEN-MEN-1 cells led to decreased expression of ST3Gal5. This resulted in decreased synthesis of the ganglioside GM3, the product of ST3Gal5. In the malignant meningioma cell line, we observed changes in expression of sialyltransferases (ST3GAL1/2/3, ST6GALNAC5, and ST8SIA1) after glycation, which correlates with less aggressive behavior.
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Berghuis AY, Pijnenborg JFA, Boltje TJ, Pijnenborg JMA. Sialic acids in gynecological cancer development and progression: Impact on diagnosis and treatment. Int J Cancer 2021; 150:678-687. [PMID: 34741527 PMCID: PMC9299683 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Gynecological cancers are in the top 10 of most common cancers in women. Survival and outcome are strongly related to the stage at diagnosis. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential in reducing morbidity and mortality. The high mortality rate of gynecological cancers can mainly be attributed to ovarian cancer (OC). OC is commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage due to a lack of proper screening tools allowing early detection. Endometrial cancer (EC) on the contrary, is mostly diagnosed at an early stage and has, in general, better outcomes. The incidence of nonendometrioid EC has increased in the last decade, displaying a shared tumor biology with OC and consequently significantly worse outcome. New approaches allowing detection of gynecological cancers in an early stage are therefore desired. Recent studies on cancer biology have shown the relevance of altered glycosylation in the occurrence and progression of cancer. The aberrant expression of sialic acid, a specific carbohydrate terminating glycoproteins and glycolipids on the cell‐surface, is frequently correlated with malignancy. We aimed to determine the current understanding of sialic acid function in different gynecological cancers to identify the gaps in knowledge and its potential use for new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues. Therefore we performed a review on current literature focusing on studies where sialylation was linked to gynecological cancers. The identified studies showed elevated levels of sialic acid in serum, tissue and sialylated antigens in most patients with gynecological cancers, underlining its potential for diagnosis.
What's new?
Recent studies have shown the relevance of altered glycosylation in the occurrence and progression of cancer. In this review, the authors found elevated levels of sialic acid in serum and tissue and high levels of sialylated antigens in most patients with gynaecological cancers, underlining the potential of sialic acid for diagnosis. Elevated levels of sialylation were related with tumour growth, poor differentiation, inhibition of apoptosis, and chemoresistance. Taken together, the studies suggest that sialylation levels could be used to discriminate healthy and benign samples from cancer samples and even early and advanced stages in ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Y Berghuis
- Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Johan F A Pijnenborg
- Cluster for Molecular Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas J Boltje
- Cluster for Molecular Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Johanna M A Pijnenborg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Radboud Institute of Health Science, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Tampa M, Nicolae I, Mitran CI, Mitran MI, Ene C, Matei C, Georgescu SR, Ene CD. Serum Sialylation Changes in Actinic Keratosis and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11101027. [PMID: 34683168 PMCID: PMC8538811 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11101027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a malignant proliferation of the cutaneous epithelium, is the second most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Unlike BCC, cSCC exhibits a greater aggressiveness and the ability to metastasize to any organ in the body. Chronic inflammation and immunosuppression are important processes linked to the development of cSCC. The tumor can occur de novo or from the histological transformation of preexisting actinic keratoses (AK). Malignant cells exhibit a higher amount of sialic acid in their membranes than normal cells, and changes in the amount, type, or linkage of sialic acid in malignant cell glycoconjugates are related to tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of our study was to investigate the sialyation in patients with cSCC and patients with AK. We have determined the serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA), beta-galactoside 2,6-sialyltransferase I (ST6GalI), and neuraminidase 3 (NEU3) in 40 patients with cSCC, 28 patients with AK, and 40 healthy subjects. Data analysis indicated a significant increase in serum levels of TSA (p < 0.001), LSA (p < 0.001), ST6GalI (p < 0.001), and NEU3 (p < 0.001) in the cSCC group compared to the control group, whereas in patients with AK only the serum level of TSA was significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.001). When the cSCC and AK groups were compared, significant differences between the serum levels of TSA (p < 0.001), LSA (p < 0.001), ST6GalI (p < 0.001) and NEU3 (p < 0.001) were found. The rate of synthesis of sialoglycoconjugates and their rate of enzymatic degradation, expressed by the ST6GalI/NEU3 ratio, is 1.64 times lower in the cSCC group compared to the control group (p < 0.01) and 1.53 times lower compared to the AK group (p < 0.01). The tumor diameter, depth of invasion, and Ki67 were associated with higher levels of TSA and LSA. These results indicate an aberrant sialylation in cSCC that correlates with tumor aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mircea Tampa
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.T.); (C.M.)
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Victor Babes’ Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ilinca Nicolae
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Victor Babes’ Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (I.N.); (S.R.G.)
| | - Cristina Iulia Mitran
- Department of Microbiology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.I.M.); (M.I.M.)
| | - Madalina Irina Mitran
- Department of Microbiology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.I.M.); (M.I.M.)
| | - Cosmin Ene
- Departments of Urology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Clara Matei
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.T.); (C.M.)
| | - Simona Roxana Georgescu
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.T.); (C.M.)
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Victor Babes’ Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (I.N.); (S.R.G.)
| | - Corina Daniela Ene
- Department of Nephrology, ‘Carol Davila’ Nephrology Hospital, 010731 Bucharest, Romania;
- Departments of Nephrology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
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Perez SJLP, Fu CW, Li WS. Sialyltransferase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer Metastasis: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives. Molecules 2021; 26:5673. [PMID: 34577144 PMCID: PMC8470674 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26185673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Potent, cell-permeable, and subtype-selective sialyltransferase inhibitors represent an attractive family of substances that can potentially be used for the clinical treatment of cancer metastasis. These substances operate by specifically inhibiting sialyltransferase-mediated hypersialylation of cell surface glycoproteins or glycolipids, which then blocks the sialic acid recognition pathway and leads to deterioration of cell motility and invasion. A vast amount of evidence for the in vitro and in vivo effects of sialyltransferase inhibition or knockdown on tumor progression and tumor cell metastasis or colonization has been accumulated over the past decades. In this regard, this review comprehensively discusses the results of studies that have led to the recent discovery and development of sialyltransferase inhibitors, their potential biomedical applications in the treatment of cancer metastasis, and their current limitations and future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ser John Lynon P. Perez
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (S.J.L.P.P.); (C.-W.F.)
- Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Fu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (S.J.L.P.P.); (C.-W.F.)
- Department of Chemistry, National Central University, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Shan Li
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (S.J.L.P.P.); (C.-W.F.)
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Biotechnology Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Tamkang University, New Taipei City 251, Taiwan
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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Yu S, Wang S, Sun X, Wu Y, Zhao J, Liu J, Yang D, Jiang Y. ST8SIA1 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by blocking the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:736. [PMID: 34429775 PMCID: PMC8371960 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system, with distant metastasis of the tumor being the main cause of death. The identification of an effective biomarker may provide a novel direction for BLCA diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the present study was to screen the BLCA-related genes involved in sialyl transferase (ST) dysregulation and to investigate the functional mechanisms of α-2,8-ST1 (ST8SIA1) in BLCA cells. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis databases suggested that the mRNA expression levels of ST8SIA1 were decreased in BLCA tissues compared with normal tissues, which was also demonstrated using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The expression levels of ST8SIA1 were negatively associated with the pathological grade and invasiveness of BLCA. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of ST8SIA1 were lower in BLCA cell lines than in a normal urothelial cell line. CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, colony formation and Transwell assays indicated that ST8SIA1 overexpression attenuated the proliferation, migration and invasion of T24 and 5637 BLCA cells. Further experiments revealed that ST8SIA1 could inhibit the phosphorylation of Janus kinase (JAK)2 and STAT3, as well as decrease the expression levels of JAK/STAT pathway-targeting signal molecules, including MMP2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D1 and Bcl2 in two BLCA cell lines. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to indicate that the antitumor effect of ST8SIA1 in BLCA cells was mediated by the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, and the results provided a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjin Yu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Medical College of Eastern Liaoning University, Dandong, Liaoning 118000, P.R. China
| | - Shidan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Glycobiology, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxin Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Glycobiology, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, P.R. China.,College of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, P.R. China
| | - Yinshuang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Glycobiology, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, P.R. China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P.R. China
| | - Junqiang Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P.R. China
| | - Deyong Yang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P.R. China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Medical College of Eastern Liaoning University, Dandong, Liaoning 118000, P.R. China
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Patel KD, De M, Jethva DD, Rathod BS, Patel PS. Alterations in Sialylation Patterns are Significantly Associated with Imatinib Mesylate Resistance in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Arch Med Res 2021; 53:51-58. [PMID: 34275666 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The study examined sialylation changes for their potential predictive value in assessment of imatinib mesylate (IM) resistance, alone and/or with BCR-ABL1 transcript variants among chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cases. METHODS A total of 98 CML cases (un-treated cases, IM non-responders and IM responders) were enrolled in the study. Total sialic acid (TSA) and total protein (TP) levels were estimated spectrophotometrically, the expression profiles of BCR-ABL1, ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL2 were evaluated using qRT-PCR assays and BCR-ABL1 transcript variants were identified through subjecting PCR products to agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS The results manifested increase in e14a2 transcript and decrease in co-expression of both transcripts (e13a2 and e14a2) in IM non-responders than un-treated CML cases. Notably, TSA/TP ratio was higher, whereas ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL2 expressions were lower in un-treated CML cases and IM non-responders as against IM responders. Further, ST3GAL2 expression was lower in un-treated CML cases than IM non-responders. Receiver operating characteristic curves also proved their discriminatory efficiencies. Decisively, the rise in TSA levels and the fall in ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL2 levels were evidently related to CML progression and clinical indicators of treatment failure (high BCR-ABL1 ratio, high WBC count, high platelet count and low Hb levels). The alterations in TSA, ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL2 levels were remarkably associated with each other. CONCLUSIONS The altered levels of TSA, ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL2 are, to a significant extent, associated with IM resistance in CML, which have clinical relevance in treatment monitoring and IM resistance treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinjal D Patel
- Cancer Biology Department, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Maitri De
- Cancer Biology Department, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Disha D Jethva
- Cancer Biology Department, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Bharati S Rathod
- Cancer Biology Department, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Prabhudas S Patel
- Cancer Biology Department, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
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Aberrant Sialylation in Cancer: Biomarker and Potential Target for Therapeutic Intervention? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092014. [PMID: 33921986 PMCID: PMC8122436 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Sialylation is a post-translational modification that consists in the addition of sialic acid to growing glycan chains on glycoproteins and glycolipids. Aberrant sialylation is an established hallmark of several types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers, melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hypersialylation can be the effect of increased activity of sialyltransferases and results in an excess of negatively charged sialic acid on the surface of cancer cells. Sialic acid accumulation contributes to tumor progression by several paths, including stimulation of tumor invasion and migration, and enhancing immune evasion and tumor cell survival. In this review we explore the mechanisms by which sialyltransferases promote cancer progression. In addition, we provide insights into the possible use of sialyltransferases as biomarkers for cancer and summarize findings on the development of sialyltransferase inhibitors as potential anti-cancer treatments. Abstract Sialylation is an integral part of cellular function, governing many biological processes including cellular recognition, adhesion, molecular trafficking, signal transduction and endocytosis. Sialylation is controlled by the levels and the activities of sialyltransferases on glycoproteins and lipids. Altered gene expression of these enzymes in cancer yields to cancer-specific alterations of glycoprotein sialylation. Mounting evidence indicate that hypersialylation is closely associated with cancer progression and metastatic spread, and can be of prognostic significance in human cancer. Aberrant sialylation is not only a result of cancer, but also a driver of malignant phenotype, directly impacting key processes such as tumor cell dissociation and invasion, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, angiogenesis, resistance to apoptosis, and evasion of immune destruction. In this review we provide insights on the impact of sialylation in tumor progression, and outline the possible application of sialyltransferases as cancer biomarkers. We also summarize the most promising findings on the development of sialyltransferase inhibitors as potential anti-cancer treatments.
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