A Systems Biology Approach Identifies FUT8 as a Driver of Melanoma Metastasis

Cancer Cell. 2017 Jun 12;31(6):804-819.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2017.05.007.

Abstract

Association of aberrant glycosylation with melanoma progression is based mainly on analyses of cell lines. Here we present a systems-based study of glycomic changes and corresponding enzymes associated with melanoma metastasis in patient samples. Upregulation of core fucosylation (FUT8) and downregulation of α-1,2 fucosylation (FUT1, FUT2) were identified as features of metastatic melanoma. Using both in vitro and in vivo studies, we demonstrate FUT8 is a driver of melanoma metastasis which, when silenced, suppresses invasion and tumor dissemination. Glycoprotein targets of FUT8 were enriched in cell migration proteins including the adhesion molecule L1CAM. Core fucosylation impacted L1CAM cleavage and the ability of L1CAM to support melanoma invasion. FUT8 and its targets represent therapeutic targets in melanoma metastasis.

Keywords: FUT8; L1CAM; core fucosylation; glycomics; glycosylation; lectin array; lectin microarray; metastasis; metastatic melanoma; primary melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fucosyltransferases / genetics*
  • Fucosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Fucosyltransferases / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
  • Systems Biology / methods

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Fucosyltransferases
  • Glycoprotein 6-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase