The glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide in the metastatic transformation of colon cancer.

ABSTRACT: The most devastating aspect of cancer is the emergence of metastases. Thus, identification of potentially metastatic cells among a tumor cell population and the underlying molecular changes that switch cells to a metastatic state are among the most important issues in cancer biology. Here we show that, although normal human colonic epithelial cells lack the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb(3)), this molecule is highly expressed in metastatic colon cancer. In addition, a subpopulation of cells that are greatly enriched in Gb(3) and have an invasive phenotype was identified in human colon cancer cell lines. In epithelial cells in culture, Gb(3) was necessary and sufficient for cell invasiveness. Transfection of Gb(3) synthase, resulting in Gb(3) expression in noncancerous polarize

SUBMITTER: Kovbasnjuk O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1323164 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature