Expression of uridine diphosphate N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase 3 in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Abstract

Uridine diphosphate (UDP) N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase 3 (GalNAc-T3), one of the enzymes that catalyze the initial glycosylation of mucin type O-linked proteins, was shown to associate with the differentiation of cancer cell lines and the prognosis of some kinds of cancers. In the present study, the association of GalNAc-T3 expression with clinicopathologic features of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and patients' survival was examined. The level of expression of GalNAc-T3 was analyzed immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tumor samples from surgically resected specimens of 59 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The correlations of GalNAc-T3 expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis were studied. Thirty-five tumors showed high- intensity GalNAc-T3 staining, whereas 24 showed low-intensity staining. A close association was observed between GalNAc-T3 staining intensity and histologic differentiation and the stage of the tumors. The low-intensity group showed a high rate of the poorly differentiated subtype (p < 0.001) and T4 of the pTNM staging system (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the expression of GalNAc-T3 is associated with the differentiation and aggressiveness of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

• Authors: Shinji Yamamoto, Shoji Nakamori, Masanori Tsujie, Yuji Takahashi, Hiroaki Nagano, Keizo Dono, Koji Umeshita, Masato Sakon, Yasuhiko Tomita, Yoshihiko Hoshida, Katsuyuki Aozasa, Kimitoshi Kohno, Morito Monden
• Journal: Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology (Pathobiology) Vol. 71 Issue 1 Pg. 12-8 ( 2004) ISSN: 1015-2008 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 14555840 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Neoplasm Proteins
• N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases
• polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal (metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Middle Aged
• N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (biosynthesis)
• Neoplasm Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Prognosis