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

AbstractThe 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: Loc al 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 andFUT3 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 highFUT3 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 ...
Source: Glycoconjugate Journal - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research