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N ‐Acetylglucosaminyltransferase V as a possible aid for the evaluation of tumor invasiveness in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Yanagi Masahiko,
Aoyagi Yutaka,
Suda Takeshi,
Mita Yuhsaku,
Asakura Hitoshi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2001.02612.x
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , medicine , cirrhosis , cancer , gastroenterology , carcinoma , liver cancer , pathology , oncology , cancer research
Background: A close relationship has been shown to exist between the metastatic potential and β1–6 branched oligosaccharides in human and rodent cells. N ‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT‐V) catalyzes this process. Although this phenomenon has been reported, little is known about the clinical usefulness of the determination of GnT‐V in the evaluations of tumor invasiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we measured the GnT‐V activity in serum of patients with HCC, together with its activity and gene expression in HCC tissues, and elucidated the clinical usefulness of the GnT‐V level in evaluating tumor invasiveness. Methods: Seventy‐three serum samples from 38 patients with HCC, 11 with chronic hepatitis, eight with hepatic cirrhosis and 16 healthy controls were used. Twenty‐one liver tissues were obtained by surgical resection from 17 patients with HCC, three with colorectal cancers and one with gallbladder cancer metastatic to the liver. The GnT‐V activity was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. The GnT‐V mRNA was quantified by using competitive RT‐PCR. Results: There were statistically significant correlations between GnT‐V activity in sera of HCC, and GnT‐V activity and GnT‐V mRNA expression in tumor tissue. The mean GnT‐V activity in the sera of patients with HCC increased in accordance with the degree of tumor invasion. The HCC group with intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases showed the highest serum GnT‐V‐value. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that there was a close association between tumor invasiveness and GnT‐V activity in sera, and that the measurement of GnT‐V may improve prognostic estimates and therapeutic outcomes for patients with HCC.