Sialyl-Tn identifies muscle-invasive bladder cancer basal and luminal subtypes facing decreased survival, being expressed by circulating tumor cells and metastases

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Lima, L (Author) Other; Neves, M (Author) Other; Oliveira, MI (Author) Other; Dieguez, L (Author) Other; Freitas, R (Author) Other; Azevedo, R (Author) Other; Gaiteiro, C (Author) Other; Soares, J (Author) Other; Ferreira, D (Author) Other; Peixoto, A (Author) Other; Fernandes, E (Author) Other; Montezuma, D (Author) Other; Tavares, A (Author) Other; Ribeiro, R (Author) Other; Castro, A (Author) Other; Oliveira, M (Author) Other; Fraga, A (Author) Other; Celso Reis (Author) ICBAS; Santos, LL (Author) Other; Ferreira, JA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations

Vol. 35

ISSN: 1078-1439

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 25 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-8D8

DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2017.08.012

Abstract (EN): Objectives: To evaluate the potential of sialyl-Tn (STn), a cancer-associated glycan antigen present in membrane glycoproteins, to improve a recent molecular model for stratification and prognostication of advanced stage bladder tumors based on keratins (KRT14, 5, and 20) expression. In addition, determine the association between STn and disease dissemination based on the evaluation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the metastasis, which is a critical matter to improve patient management. Patients and methods: A retrospective series of 80 muscle-invasive primary bladder tumors and associated metastasis were screened for KRT14, 5, and 20 and STn by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Peripheral blood was collected in a patients' subset, CTCs were isolated through a size-based microfluidic chip and screened for KRTs and STn. Results: Basal-like lesions presented worse cancer-specific and disease-free survival compared to luminal tumors. STn antigen inclusion discriminated patients with worst survival in each subgroup (P = 0.047 for luminal; P = 0.027 for basal-like tumors). STn expression in CTCs and distant metastasis was also demonstrated. Conclusion: This work reinforces the potential of the KRT-based model for bladder cancer management and the association of STn with aggressiveness, supporting its inclusion in predictive molecular models toward patient-tailored precision medicine. Moreover, we describe for the first time that CTCs and the metastasis present a basal phenotype and express the STn antigen, highlighting its link with disease dissemination. Future studies should focus on determining the biological and clinical significance of these observations in the context of liquid biopsies. Given the membrane nature of STn, highly specific targeted therapeutics may also be envisaged.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8