The Implication of N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase V Expression in Gastric Cancer

Objective: N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) is a key enzyme that catalyzes beta(1-6) branching of N-acetylglucosamine on N-glycan of cell proteins, some of which are linked with metastasis. GnT-V expression was studied immunohistochemically in gastric cancer to compare clinicopathological parameters and evaluate the role of GnT-V in the prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was carried out to detect GnT-V expression in 50 advanced gastric cancer tissues where the depth of invasion exceeded the subserosa, and the relationship between GnT-V expression and various clinicopathological factors, including survival, was analyzed. Results: GnT-V was expressed in 23 (46%) gastric cancer tissues. GnT-V expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastases, peritoneal dissemination and liver metastases, respectively (p = 0.005, p = 0.013 and p = 0.023). Patients with GnT-V-positive gastric cancer had a significantly shorter survival than those without GnT-V expression (5-year survival rate: 31.2 and 54.4%, respectively; p = 0.045). Conclusion: GnT-V expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients due to metastases. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel