Effect of benzyl-alpha-GalNAc, an inhibitor of mucin glycosylation, on cancer-associated antigens in human colon cancer cells.

Many cancer-associated antigens are present on mucin glycoproteins. These include peripheral antigens such as sialyl Lea and sialyl Lex and core region carbohydrate antigens such as T, Tn, and Sialyl Tn. We have recently described an inhibitor of mucin glycosylation, benzyl-alpha-GalNAc. The purpose of this study was to determine its effect on expression of mucin carbohydrate antigens. HM7 colon cancer cells were treated for 2 days in culture with 2 mM benzyl-alpha-GalNAc. This treatment did not affect viability or doubling time, but inhibited synthesis of [3H]glucosamine-labeled mucins. There was also secretion of benzyl-oligosaccharides and a decrease in the proportion of long oligosaccharides on 3H-labeled mucins. Mucins were purified from spent media by gel filtration and assayed for binding of monoclonal antibodies and lectins. Mucins from benzyl-alpha-GalNAc-treated cells had increased binding of peanut agglutinin (specific for T antigen, Gal beta 3GalNAc) and Vicia villosa agglutinin B4 (specific for Tn antigen, GalNAc alpha-Thr/Ser), but decreased binding of monoclonal antibodies 19-9, SNH3, and 91.9H (specific for sialyl Lea, sialyl Lex, and sulfomucin, respectively). Treatment of the cells with benzyl-alpha-GalNAc also decreased their binding to E-selectin (ELAM-1), which recognizes sialyl Lea and sialyl Lex. Thus, benzyl-alpha-GalNAc treatment, which decreases the level of peripheral carbohydrate carbohydrate antigens on mucins with accumulation of core region antigens, may be useful in modifying the immunological and biological properties of colon cancer cells.