Clinical Trial: The Role of Glycosyltransferases in the Oncogenesis of Neuroblastoma

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: The Role of Glycosyltransferases in the Oncogenesis of Neuroblastoma

Brief Summary:

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common malignant tumor of infancy. Approximately 60% of NB patients are clinically diagnosed as the stage IV disease and have a very poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of no more than 30%. The mechanism underlying the tumorigenesis of NB remains largely unclear. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of NB is due to a failure of differentiation or apoptosis of the embryonic NB cells.

Well-regulated glycosylation is essential for the normal development of the nervous system. Altered expression of glycosyltransferases with resulting dysregulated glycosylation of neuroblastic cells might lead to the development of NB. The β1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase III (B4GALNT3) exhibits GalNAc transferase activity to form the GalNAcβ1,4GlcNAc (LacdiNAc or LDN) structure. The Drosophila B4GALNTA, homolog of human B4GALNT3, has been suggested to regulate the neuronal development. By immunohistochemical studies, we demonstrated that the expression of B4GALNT3 correlated well with histological grade of differentiation in 87 NB tumor samples. In addition, positive B4GALNT3 expression predicted a favorable patient's outcome. These evidences suggest that the regulation of glycosyltransferases is critical for the development of NB.

To further explore the role of glycosyltransferases in the differentiation and development of NB, we propose a 3-year project with the following 3 major aims:

Aim Ⅰ: Clarifying the effects of B4GALNT3 on NB cell behavior in vitro and in vivo. For further understanding the effects of B4GALNT3 on NB cells, NB cells with stable overexpression of B4GALNT3 are to be selected. Then NB cell phenotype and behavior changes after overexpression of B4GALNT3 are evaluated by in vitro assays as well as by a nude m

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital

Current Primary Outcome:

Original Primary Outcome:

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: National Taiwan University Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: January 27, 2010
Date Started: January 2008
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 27, 2010
Last Verified: January 2010