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Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2/2016

01-11-2016 | Preclinical Study

High extent of O-GlcNAcylation in breast cancer cells correlates with the levels of HAS enzymes, accumulation of hyaluronan, and poor outcome

Authors: Satu Tiainen, Sanna Oikari, Markku Tammi, Kirsi Rilla, Kirsi Hämäläinen, Raija Tammi, Veli-Matti Kosma, Päivi Auvinen

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Obesity and oversupply of glucose, e.g., due to nutritional factors may shape the tumor microenvironment favorable for tumor progression. O-GlcNAcylation, a reversible modification of intracellular proteins, influences on several cellular functions and is connected to many diseases including cancer. Glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA) enhances tumor progression and in breast cancer HA accumulation associates strongly with poor outcome. In vitro studies have suggested that O-GlcNAcylation may enhance HA synthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between O-GlcNAcylation, HA-related parameters, and disease outcome in a clinical breast cancer material consisting of 278 breast cancer cases.

Methods

In microscopic analyses, O-GlcNAc staining of the breast carcinoma cells was evaluated in several randomly picked high-power fields of each section. The extent of cytoplasmic O-GlcNAc staining was graded as either low or high according to the intensity of the staining and the percentage of stained cells. The extent of nuclear O-GlcNAc staining was categorized as either low or high according to the percentage of stained nuclei.

Results

A high extent of both cytoplasmic and nuclear O-GlcNAcylation correlated with an increased relapse rate, development of distant metastases, and poor outcome. A high extent of cytoplasmic O-GlcNAcylation correlated also with the accumulation of all hyaluronan synthase (HAS1-3) proteins and with a large amount of HA in the tumor stroma. In addition, a high extent of nuclear O-GlcNAcylation associated with obesity.

Conclusions

The results suggest a mechanistic association between increased O-GlcNAcylation and HA synthesis, leading to a HA-rich microenvironment favorable for breast cancer progression.
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Metadata
Title
High extent of O-GlcNAcylation in breast cancer cells correlates with the levels of HAS enzymes, accumulation of hyaluronan, and poor outcome
Authors
Satu Tiainen
Sanna Oikari
Markku Tammi
Kirsi Rilla
Kirsi Hämäläinen
Raija Tammi
Veli-Matti Kosma
Päivi Auvinen
Publication date
01-11-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-016-3996-4

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