Altered mRNA expression of sialyltransferase in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix

Objective. Increased sialylation has been reported in various kinds of canc ers, but to date, sialylation of cervical carcinoma has never been evaluate d. This study of the changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressio n of the four sialyltransferases (ST3Gal I, ST3Gal III, ST3Gal IV, and ST6G al I) in a normal cervix and that with FIGO stage IB I squamous cell carcin oma was undertaken to assess the extent of sialylation associated with esta blishment of the carcinoma. Methods. Alterations in ST mRNA expression in FIGO IB1 cervical cancer (n=3 0) and normal cervixes (n=30) were examined by semiquantitative reverse tra nscription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results. ST6Gal I expression was enhanced in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (P=0.026, Mann-Whitney U test), but mRNA expression from the other three STs (ST3Gal I, ST3Gal III, and ST3Gal IV) was significantly down-expr essed in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix compared to the normal cervi x (P=0.003, P<0.001, and P=0.001, respectively). High ST6Gal I expression w as associated with more invasive properties of cervical cancer, such as dee p stromal invasion, lymph or vascular space involvement, and poor different iation (P=0.010, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions. A combination of enhanced ST6Gal I mRNA expression and decreas ed mRNA expression from ST3Gal I, ST3Gal III, and ST3Gal IV might be import ant in cervical cancer. Future studies will investigate whether RT-PCR dete ction of the expression of these enzymes can be helpful for prognostic purp oses. (C) 2001 Academic Press.