Expression of sialyltransferase family members in cervix squamous cell carcinoma correlates with lymph node metastasis
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Peng-Hui Wang1, Ywan Feng Li, Chi-Mou Juang
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taiwan.
Objective:
Altered messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of the four sialyltransferases (STs including ST3Gal I, ST3Gal III, ST3Gal IV, and ST6Gal I) is important in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. This study further investigates their changes in mRNA expression of the four STs in FIGO stage IB1 squamous cell carcinoma to assess the extent of sialylation associated with lymph node metastases.
Methods:
Alterations in ST mRNA expression in FIGO IB1 cervical squamous cell carcinomas (n = 79) were examined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
Both ST6Gal I mRNA and ST3Gal III mRNA expressions were significantly increased in patients with lymph node metastases compared to those without lymph node metastases (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively, Mann-Whitney U test). Using receiver operating characteristic curves of ST ratio index for accuracy comparison of lymph node metastases, ST3Gal III and ST6Gal I were observed to be fairly interchangeable (area under the curve (AUC) of 3Gal I = 0.810; AUC of 6Gal I = 0.786, significance of difference between AUC = 0.810). High ST6Gal I expression was associated with other invasive properties of cervical cancer, such as deep stromal invasion and presence of lymph-vascular space involvement. ST6Gal I expression seemed to be more enhanced in bigger tumors.
Conclusions:
Our results suggested that ST3Gal III and ST6Gal I were of importance for the lymph node metastases in FIGO IB1 cervical cancer patients; more specifically, overexpression of ST6Gal I was of crucial relevance for the presence of poor prognostic factors, such as deep stromal invasion and lymph-vascular space involvement and lymph node metastases.
Insights
Increased expression of sialyltransferases ST3Gal III and ST6Gal I in cervical cancer is linked to lymph node metastasis. ST6Gal I overexpression is particularly relevant for poor prognostic factors in FIGO stage IB1 disease.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Altered messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of sialyltransferases (STs) is implicated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
- Specific STs include ST3Gal I, ST3Gal III, ST3Gal IV, and ST6Gal I.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in mRNA expression of four STs in FIGO stage IB1 cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
- To assess the extent of sialylation associated with lymph node metastases.
Main Methods:
- Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine ST mRNA expression.
- Study included 79 patients with FIGO IB1 cervical squamous cell carcinomas.
Main Results:
- ST6Gal I and ST3Gal III mRNA expressions were significantly increased in patients with lymph node metastases.
- ST3Gal III and ST6Gal I demonstrated high accuracy in predicting lymph node metastases (AUCs of 0.810 and 0.786, respectively).
- High ST6Gal I expression correlated with deep stromal invasion, lymph-vascular space involvement, and larger tumor size.
Conclusions:
- ST3Gal III and ST6Gal I are important in lymph node metastasis for FIGO IB1 cervical cancer.
- Overexpression of ST6Gal I is crucial for poor prognostic factors including deep stromal invasion, lymph-vascular space involvement, and lymph node metastasis.