BACKGROUND: A number of glycoproteins such as CA125 are abnormally glycosylated in ovarian cancers. Most aberrant glycosylations are a result of altered sialyltransferase (ST) expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of 6 STs and MUC16, and their correlations in benign and malignant ovarian tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: mRNA expression of 6 STs and MUC16 was assessed in 16 human ovarian tumors (7 benign, 9 malignant) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR). RESULTS: mRNA of ST6GAL I and ST3GAL I was not significantly upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues, while ST6GAL II and ST3GAL IV were not significantly increased in benign tumors. There was no change between ST3GAL III and ST3GAL VI expression and tumor subtypes. MUC16 was significantly increased in carcinoma tissue. Significant correlation was found between ST3GAL III and ST3GAL IV. MUC16 correlated with ST3GAL VI and ST6GAL I. ST6GAL I correlated well with ST3GAL VI. ST6GAL II correlated significantly with ST3GAL III and ST3GAL IV. CONCLUSIONS: The given STs and MUC16 can be expressed at a heterogeneous level as a consequence of oncogenic transformation of the ovary. A strong correlation between MUC16 and STs may impact specifically on the glycosylation of MUC16.
BACKGROUND: A number of glycoproteins such as CA125 are abnormally glycosylated in ovarian cancers. Most aberrant glycosylations are a result of altered sialyltransferase (ST) expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of 6 STs and MUC16, and their correlations in benign and malignant ovarian tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: mRNA expression of 6 STs and MUC16 was assessed in 16 humanovarian tumors (7 benign, 9 malignant) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR). RESULTS: mRNA of ST6GAL I and ST3GAL I was not significantly upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues, while ST6GAL II and ST3GAL IV were not significantly increased in benign tumors. There was no change between ST3GAL III and ST3GAL VI expression and tumor subtypes. MUC16 was significantly increased in carcinoma tissue. Significant correlation was found between ST3GAL III and ST3GAL IV. MUC16 correlated with ST3GAL VI and ST6GAL I. ST6GAL I correlated well with ST3GAL VI. ST6GAL II correlated significantly with ST3GAL III and ST3GAL IV. CONCLUSIONS: The given STs and MUC16 can be expressed at a heterogeneous level as a consequence of oncogenic transformation of the ovary. A strong correlation between MUC16 and STs may impact specifically on the glycosylation of MUC16.