PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - T Petretti
AU  - W Kemmner
AU  - B Schulze
AU  - P M Schlag
TI  - Altered mRNA expression of glycosyltransferases in human colorectal carcinomas and liver metastases
AID  - 10.1136/gut.46.3.359
DP  - 2000 Mar 01
TA  - Gut
PG  - 359--366
VI  - 46
IP  - 3
4099  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/46/3/359.short
4100  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/46/3/359.full
SO  - Gut2000 Mar 01; 46
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS Biosynthesis of carbohydrate structures is tissue specific and developmentally regulated by glycosyltransferases such as fucosyltransferases, sialyltransferases, and N-acetylgluco- saminyltransferases. During carcinogenesis, aberrant glycosylation leads to the development of tumour subpopulations with different adhesion properties. Therefore alterations in glycosyltransferase mRNA expression in colorectal carcinomas were examined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). METHODS Colorectal carcinoma specimens were classified and characterised according to the WHO/UICC system. Expression of fucosyltransferases FT-I, FT-III, FT-IV, FT-V, FT-VI, and FT-VII, sialyltransferases ST3Gal-I, ST3Gal-III, ST3Gal-IV, and ST6Gal-I, β1,4-galacto- syltransferase, and β1,6-Nacetylgluco- saminyltransferase V (GNT-V) was screened simultaneously in extracts of 22 homogenised tumour specimens by RT-PCR and compared with corresponding mucosa from each patient. Also 12 adenomas and 17 liver metastases of colorectal carcinomas were examined. RESULTS GNT-V expression was enhanced in colorectal adenomas (p = 0.039), carcinomas (p<0.001), and liver metastases of colorectal carcinomas (p<0.001). Also, expression of fucosyltransferase FT-IV was increased in colorectal adenomas (p = 0.039) and carcinomas (p<0.001). In addition, fucosyltransferase FT-I (p<0.001) and sialyltransferases ST6Gal-I (p = 0.004) and ST3Gal-III (p = 0.001) showed increased expression in carcinoma specimens. On the other hand, fucosyltransferase FT-III was less abundantly expressed in carcinomas exhibiting distant metastases (p = 0.046) and in highly invasive tumours (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS Glycosyltransferase mRNA expression is significantly altered in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas isolated from surgical specimens. RT-PCR determination of specific glycosyltransferases may be helpful for earlier detection of carcinomas and for tumour prognosis.