High expression of FUT3 is linked to poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Prognostic significance of serum fucosylated pro-haptoglobin in advanced renal cell carcinoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

With the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), identifying predictive biomarkers is critical. Recently, serum fucosylated haptoglobin (Fuc-Hp) was thought to play an important role in tumour immunity in several types of cancer. Therefore, evaluating serum Fuc-Hp in the peripheral blood can potentially identify non-invasive predictive biomarkers for the clinical efficacy of ICIs. In this study, 31 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with nivolumab were enrolled and defined as responders or non-responders according to RECIST criteria. Serum samples were collected before and 1 month after treatment initiation, and an ELISA assay was performed using Aleuria Aurantia Lectin (AAL) and 10-7G monoclonal antibodies that recognise Fuc-mature Hp (Fuc-mHp) and Fuc-pro Hp (Fuc-pHp), respectively. We first measured AAL-haptoglobin (Fuc-mHp) and total haptoglobin levels before nivolumab and found that neither value could predict the clinical response. Notably, serum 10-7G levels were significantly lower in the responder group (p = 0.035). We also confirmed the use of serum 10-7G levels for predicting progressive disease after nivolumab (area under the curve, 0.816). Accordingly, low 10-7G levels were significantly correlated with better progression-free survival (p = 0.041). In conclusion, serum Fuc-pHp analysis may identify patients with advanced RCC who benefit from ICIs.

Role of tumor cell sialylation in pancreatic cancer progression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies and is currently the third leading cause of cancer death. The aggressiveness of PDAC stems from late diagnosis, early metastasis, and poor efficacy of current chemotherapies. Thus, there is an urgent need for effective biomarkers for early detection of PDAC and development of new therapeutic strategies. It has long been known that cellular glycosylation is dysregulated in pancreatic cancer cells, however, tumor-associated glycans and their cognate glycosylating enzymes have received insufficient attention as potential clinical targets. Aberrant glycosylation affects a broad range of pathways that underpin tumor initiation, metastatic progression, and resistance to cancer treatment. One of the prevalent alterations in the cancer glycome is an enrichment in a select group of sialylated glycans including sialylated, branched N-glycans, sialyl Lewis antigens, and sialylated forms of truncated O-glycans such as the sialyl Tn antigen. These modifications affect the activity of numerous cell surface receptors, which collectively impart malignant characteristics typified by enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis-resistance. Additionally, sialic acids on tumor cells engage inhibitory Siglec receptors on immune cells to dampen anti-tumor immunity, further promoting cancer progression. The goal of this review is to summarize the predominant changes in sialylation occurring in pancreatic cancer, the biological functions of sialylated glycoproteins in cancer pathogenesis, and the emerging strategies for targeting sialoglycans and Siglec receptors in cancer therapeutics.

Glycosylation in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors of the urinary system, accounting for around 2% of all cancer diagnoses and deaths worldwide. Clear cell RCC (ccRCC) is the most prevalent and aggressive histology with an unfavorable prognosis and inadequate treatment. Patients' progression-free survival is considerably improved by surgery; however, 30% of patients develop metastases following surgery. Identifying novel targets and molecular markers for RCC prognostic detection is crucial for more accurate clinical diagnosis and therapy. Glycosylation is a critical post-translational modification (PMT) for cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion, involving the transfer of glycosyl moieties to specific amino acid residues in proteins to form glycosidic bonds through the activity of glycosyltransferases. Most cancers, including RCC, undergo glycosylation changes such as branching, sialylation, and fucosylation. In this review, we discuss the latest findings on the significance of aberrant glycans in the initiation, development, and progression of RCC. The potential biomarkers of altered glycans for the diagnosis and their implications in RCC have been further highlighted.

A Comprehensive Prognostic Analysis of Tumor-Related Blood Group Antigens in Pan-Cancers Suggests That SEMA7A as a Novel Biomarker in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

Blood group antigen is a class of heritable antigenic substances present on the erythrocyte membrane. However, the role of blood group antigens in cancer prognosis is still largely unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of 33 blood group antigen genes and their association with the prognosis of 30 types of cancers in 31,870 tumor tissue samples. Our results revealed that blood group antigens are abnormally expressed in a variety of cancers. The high expression of these antigen genes was mainly related to the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. High expression of seven antigen genes, i.e., FUT7, AQP1, P1, C4A, AQP3, KEL and DARC, were significantly associated with good OS (Overall Survival) in six types of cancers, while ten genes, i.e., AQP1, P1, C4A, AQP3, BSG, CD44, CD151, LU, FUT2, and SEMA7A, were associated with poor OS in three types of cancers. Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is associated with the largest number (14 genes) of prognostic antigen genes, i.e., CD44, CD151, SEMA7A, FUT7, CR1, AQP1, GYPA, FUT3, FUT6, FUT1, SLC14A1, ERMAP, C4A, and B3GALT3. High expression of SEMA7A gene was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis of KIRC in this analysis but has not been reported previously. SEMA7A might be a putative biomarker for poor prognosis in KIRC. In conclusion, our analysis indicates that blood group antigens may play functional important roles in tumorigenesis, progression, and especially prognosis. These results provide data to support prognostic marker development and future clinical management.

Fucosylation in Urological Cancers

Fucosylation is an oligosaccharide modification that plays an important role in immune response and malignancy, and specific fucosyltransferases (FUTs) catalyze the three types of fucosylations: core-type, Lewis type, and H type. FUTs regulate cancer proliferation, invasiveness, and resistance to chemotherapy by modifying the glycosylation of signaling receptors. Oligosaccharides on PD-1/PD-L1 proteins are specifically fucosylated, leading to functional modifications. Expression of FUTs is upregulated in renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer. Aberrant fucosylation in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could be used as a novel biomarker for prostate cancer. Furthermore, elucidation of the biological function of fucosylation could result in the development of novel therapeutic targets. Further studies are needed in the field of fucosylation glycobiology in urological malignancies.

The Role of Glycosyltransferases in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main causes of cancer death in the world. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have been extensively studied in malignancies due to its relevance in tumor pathogenesis and therapy. This review is focused on the dysregulation of glycosyltransferase expression in CRC and its impact in cell function and in several biological pathways associated with CRC pathogenesis, prognosis and therapeutic approaches. Glycan structures act as interface molecules between cells and their environment and in several cases facilitate molecule function. CRC tissue shows alterations in glycan structures decorating molecules, such as annexin-1, mucins, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), β1 integrin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) receptors, Fas (CD95), PD-L1, decorin, sorbin and SH3 domain-containing protein 1 (SORBS1), CD147 and glycosphingolipids. All of these are described as key molecules in oncogenesis and metastasis. Therefore, glycosylation in CRC can affect cell migration, cell–cell adhesion, actin polymerization, mitosis, cell membrane repair, apoptosis, cell differentiation, stemness regulation, intestinal mucosal barrier integrity, immune system regulation, T cell polarization and gut microbiota composition; all such functions are associated with the prognosis and evolution of the disease. According to these findings, multiple strategies have been evaluated to alter oligosaccharide processing and to modify glycoconjugate structures in order to control CRC progression and prevent metastasis. Additionally, immunotherapy approaches have contemplated the use of neo-antigens, generated by altered glycosylation, as targets for tumor-specific T cells or engineered CAR (Chimeric antigen receptors) T cells.

High FUT3 expression is a marker of lower overall survival of breast cancer patients

The complex enzyme network responsible for glycan synthesis suffers significant changes during the first steps of tumor development, leading to the early formation of tumor-associated glycan signatures. Among the glycosylation pathways, changes in fucosylation emerged as one of most important features in cancer. Αlpha-1,3/4-fucosyltransferase (FUT3) has been linked to pro-tumor and anti-tumor pathways depending on the cancer type. The present study aimed to understand the gene and protein expression profiles of FUT3 in three different and independent cohorts composed by invasive breast cancer patients: Local Brazilian population, METABRIC and TCGA. FUT3 transcripts and protein were measured in the Brazilian population by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Clinical records and FUT3 levels from public METABRIC and TCGA cohorts were accessed through CBioPortal database. FUT3 expression was analyzed in each cohort using the appropriated statistic tools. Survival meta-analysis in triple negative patients was performed using five independent cohorts including GSE41119, GSE47994 and GSE86945, data obtained from GEO repository available at NCBI database, and METABRIC and TCGA. Our analysis showed that high FUT3 levels were consistently associated to reduced invasive breast cancer patients overall survival. This finding is particularly significant in triple negative patients. These results together with the previously knowledge regarding the involvement of FUT3 in pro-tumor and anti-tumor mechanisms led us to purpose a model for FUT3 expression regulation throughout breast cancer establishment and progression.

Fucosylation in cancer biology and its clinical applications

Fucosylation is the process of transferring fucose from GDP-fucose to their substrates, which includes certain proteins, N- and O-linked glycans in glycoprotein or glycolipids, by fucosyltransferases in all mammalian cells. Fucosylated glycans play vital role in selectin-mediated leukocyte extravasation, lymphocyte homing, and pathogen-host interactions, whereas fucosylated proteins are essential for signaling transduction in numerous ontogenic events. Aberrant fucosylation due to the availability of high energy donor GDP-fucose, abnormal expression of FUTs and/or α-fucosidase, and the availability of their substrates leads to different fucosylated glycan or protein structures. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that aberrant fucosylation plays important role in all aspects of cancer biology. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge about fucosylation in different physiological and pathological processes with a focus on their roles not only in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis but also in tumor immune surveillance. Furthermore, the clinical potential and applications of fucosylation in cancer diagnosis and treatment will also be discussed.

Low level of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 predicts unfavorable postoperative outcomes in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) expression on prognosis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) following nephrectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 358 ccRCC patients undergoing nephrectomy in Renji Hospital. Clinicopathologic features, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of ccRCC patents were all collected. IDH1 expression level was assessed by immunohistochemistry and its association with clinicopathologic features and outcomes were also evaluated. Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was applied to compare survival curves. Multivariate cox regression models were applied to analyze the prognostic value of each factor on OS and RFS of ccRCC patients. Moreover, two nomograms with factors selected by multivariate analysis were constructed to evaluate the prognosis of ccRCC patients, and the calibration plots were built to assess the predictive accuracy of nomograms.

Results

Our data indicated that IDH1 expression level was down-regulated in ccRCC tissues, and it negatively correlated with tumor Fuhrman grade (p = 0.025). Low IDH1 expression was associated with worse OS and RFS for cccRCC patients (OS, p = 0.004; RFS, p = 0.03). In addition, IDH1 could significantly stratify patients’ OS and RFS in intermediate/high risk patients (UISS score ≥ 4) (p = 0.049 and p = 0.004, respectively). Furthermore, incorporating IDH1 with other prognostic factors could predict ccRCC patients’ OS and RFS (OS, c-index = 0.779; RFS, c-index = 0.798) and perform better than TNM and SSIGN system.

Conclusions

Low IDH1 expression level might be an adverse prognostic biomarker for clinical outcomes of ccRCC patients, and two nomograms with IDH1 are potential effective prognostic models for ccRCC.