[alpha](1,6)Fucosyltransferase expression is an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in colorectal carcinoma

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 42; no. 11; p. 1740
• Main Authors: Muinelo-Romay, L, Villar-Portela, S, Cuevas Alvarez, E, Gil-Martín, E, Fernández-Briera, Almudena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier Limited 01.11.2011
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Cancer therapies; Confidence intervals; Disease; Liver cancer; Multivariate analysis; Proteins; Studies; Surgery; Tumors
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2011.01.021

We previously reported that α (1,6)fucosyltransferase (Enzyme class 2.4.1.68) activity and expression are increased in colorectal cancer, suggesting a role for this enzyme in tumor development and progression. However, the possible impact of α (1,6)fucosyltransferase activity or expression on clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer patients has never been studied. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the value of α (1,6)fucosyltransferase as a prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. α (1,6)Fucosyltransferase expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry in 141 colorectal tumors, and α (1,6)fucosyltransferase activity was determined in 39 tumors. A complete standardized follow-up of patients was documented until the end of the observation period of 5 years or patient death. Univariate analysis demonstrated the absence of a correlation between enzyme activity and disease evolution. However, in patients with moderate or strong α (1,6)fucosyltransferase expression, a significant decrease in the overall (P = .04) and disease-free (P = .03) survival rates was observed. In addition, when local and distant disease recurrence were considered separately, enzyme expression was found to correlate with local tumor recurrences (P = .01). Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that α (1,6)fucosyltransferase expression has independent value for predicting tumor recurrences and, specifically, local recurrences. These findings suggest that α (1,6)fucosyltransferase expression may be a good indicator of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer and, therefore, a helpful tool to choose the most effective treatment.