FUT8 Is a Critical Driver of Prostate Tumour Growth and Can Be Targeted Using Fucosylation Inhibitors

Bastian, K; Orozco-Moreno, M; Thomas, H; Hodgson, K; Visser, EA; Rossing, E; Pijnenborg, JFA; Eerden, N; WILSON, L; Saravannan, H; Hanley, O; Grimsley, G; Frame, F; Peng, Z; Knight, B; McCullagh, P; McGrath, J; Crundwell, M; Harries, L; Maitland, NJ; Heer, R; Wang, N; Goddard-Borger, ED; Guerrero, RH; Boltje, TJ; Drake, RR; Scott, E; Elliott, DJ; Munkley, J

Author(s): Bastian, K; Orozco-Moreno, M; Thomas, H; Hodgson, K; Visser, EA; Rossing, E; Pijnenborg, JFA; Eerden, N; WILSON, L; Saravannan, H; Hanley, O; Grimsley, G; Frame, F; Peng, Z; Knight, B; McCullagh, P; McGrath, J; Crundwell, M; Harries, L; Maitland, NJ; Heer, R; Wang, N; Goddard-Borger, ED; Guerrero, RH; Boltje, TJ; Drake, RR; Scott, E; Elliott, DJ; Munkley, J;
Details: Publication Year 2025-05,Volume 14,Issue #10,Page e70959
Journal Title: Cancer Medicine
Publication Type: May 19
Abstract: BACKGROUND: An unmet clinical need requires the discovery of new treatments for men facing advanced prostate cancer. Aberrant glycosylation is a universal feature of cancer cells and plays a key role in tumour growth, immune evasion and metastasis. Alterations in tumour glycosylation are closely associated with prostate cancer progression, making glycans promising therapeutic targets. Fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) drives core fucosylation by adding α1,6-fucose to the innermost GlcNAc residue on N-glycans. While FUT8 is recognised as a crucial factor in cancer progression, its role in prostate cancer remains poorly understood. METHODS & RESULTS: Here, we demonstrate using multiple independent clinical cohorts that FUT8 is upregulated in high grade and metastatic prostate tumours, and in the blood of prostate cancer patients with aggressive disease. Using novel tools, including PhosL lectin immunofluorescence and N-glycan MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), we find FUT8 underpins the biosynthesis of malignant core fucosylated N-glycans in prostate cancer cells and using both in vitro and in vivo models, we find FUT8 promotes prostate tumour growth, cell motility and invasion. Mechanistically we show FUT8 regulates the expression of genes and signalling pathways linked to prostate cancer progression. Furthermore, we find that fucosylation inhibitors can inhibit the activity of FUT8 in prostate cancer to suppress the growth of prostate tumours. CONCLUSIONS: Our study cements FUT8-mediated core fucosylation as an important driver of prostate cancer progression and suggests targeting FUT8 activity for prostate cancer therapy as an exciting area to explore.
Publisher: Wiley
Keywords: Male; *Fucosyltransferases/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics; Humans; *Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology/drug therapy/metabolism/genetics; Animals; Mice; Glycosylation/drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Fucose/metabolism; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Polysaccharides/metabolism; Cell Movement/drug effects; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; *Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; core fucosylation; fucosylation inhibitors; fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8); glycans; prostate cancer; therapeutics; tumour growth
Research Division(s): Infection and Global Health
PubMed ID: 40387385
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70959
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70959
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2025-05-29 01:50:44

Last Modified: 2025-05-29 02:07:57