Alpha 1, 3 fucosyltransferases are master regulators of prostate cancer cell trafficking

SR Barthel, GK Wiese, J Cho… - Proceedings of the …, 2009 - National Acad Sciences
SR Barthel, GK Wiese, J Cho, MJ Opperman, DL Hays, J Siddiqui, KJ Pienta, B Furie
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009National Acad Sciences
How cancer cells bind to vascular surfaces and extravasate into target organs is an
underappreciated, yet essential step in metastasis. We postulate that the metastatic process
involves discrete adhesive interactions between circulating cancer cells and microvascular
endothelial cells. Sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) on prostate cancer (PCa) cells is thought to promote
metastasis by mediating PCa cell binding to microvascular endothelial (E)-selectin. Yet,
regulation of sLeX and related E-selectin ligand expression in PCa cells is a poorly …
How cancer cells bind to vascular surfaces and extravasate into target organs is an underappreciated, yet essential step in metastasis. We postulate that the metastatic process involves discrete adhesive interactions between circulating cancer cells and microvascular endothelial cells. Sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) on prostate cancer (PCa) cells is thought to promote metastasis by mediating PCa cell binding to microvascular endothelial (E)-selectin. Yet, regulation of sLeX and related E-selectin ligand expression in PCa cells is a poorly understood factor in PCa metastasis. Here, we describe a glycobiological mechanism regulating E-selectin-mediated adhesion and metastatic potential of PCa cells. We demonstrate that α1,3 fucosyltransferases (FT) 3, 6, and 7 are markedly elevated in bone- and liver-metastatic PCa and dictate synthesis of sLeX and E-selectin ligands on metastatic PCa cells. Upregulated FT3, FT6, or FT7 expression induced robust PCa PC-3 cell adhesion to bone marrow (BM) endothelium and to inflamed postcapillary venules in an E-selectin-dependent manner. Membrane proteins, CD44, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), podocalyxin-like protein (PCLP), and melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) were major scaffolds presenting E-selectin-binding determinants on FT-upregulated PC-3 cells. Furthermore, elevated FT7 expression promoted PC-3 cell trafficking to and retention in BM through an E-selectin dependent event. These results indicate that α1,3 FTs could enhance metastatic efficiency of PCa by triggering an E-selectin-dependent trafficking mechanism.
National Acad Sciences