Expression of genes encoding for enzymes associated with O-GlcNAcylation in endometrial carcinomas: clinicopathologic correlations

Abstract

Objectives: O-GlcNAcylation is an abundant modification of cellular proteins which consist of single N-acetylglucosamine residues attached by O-linkage to serine or threonine residues. Abnormal O-GlcNAcylation seems to be a feature of malignant cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the expression of genes encoding O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes (OGT and MGEA5) and clinicopathological parameters of endometrial carcinomas. Materials and methods: The mRNA expression levels of O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes in series of 76 samples of endometrial carcinoma were studied by real time RT-PCR method. Results: The OGT and MGEA5 mRNA expression was significantly higher in tumors of higher histological grade than in well-differentiated tumors. Statistically significant association was found between OGT and MGEA5 mRNA expression and depth of myometrial invasion. Both OGT and MGEA5 expression profiles showed no significant association with the clinical stage of endometrial cancer. Conclusion: O-GlcNAcylation may be an important regulatory modification involved in endometrial cancer pathogenesis but the actual significance of this modification for endometrial cancer progression needs to be investigated further.