Altered expression of fucosyltransferases in colorectal cancer

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K10643
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Noda Masaru 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50769643)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岡山 洋和 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (20583397) ; 門馬 智之 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20622335) ; 坂本 渉 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (40622337)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸癌 / フコース転移酵素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study focused on alpha1-6 fucosyltransferase, an enzyme responsible for core fucosylation encoded by FUT8. As the FUT8 gene has recently been identified as a direct transcriptional target of wild-type p53, we specifically investigated the expression of FUT8 in conjunction with p53 alterations in colorectal cancer. FUT8 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in tumors hrboring mutant TP53, compared to those of wild-type TP53. Using immunohistochemistry, positive expression of FUT8 protein was associated with survival only in tumors with negative p53, while it had no prognostic impact in tumors with positive p53. Although we also found that the expression of polypeptide N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) transferase 6 was significantly decreased in BRAF mutant tumors compared to those of wild-type, the in vitro role of mutant BRAF in regulation of this enzyme remains inconclusive.

Free Research Field

大腸癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

大腸癌において、α1‐6 fucosyltransferase発現のゲノム異常との関連、臨床的意義を解明することは、大腸癌の発癌、進展における生物学的機構を理解する一助となり得るとともに、大腸癌治療の個別化にも寄与しうる可能性がある。