Glycopathology of HCC: identification of the source cells of serum fucosylation

In the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, mortality from Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increased at an annual rate of 2.8% in men and 2.2% in women, making it the cancer with the greatest increase in mortality in the United States (USA) over the last 10 years. The occurrence of liver cancer is predicted to continue rising in the USA and will exceed 50,000 cases by 2021. The majority of HCC arises in the background of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, usually associated with chronic viral infection (hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus) or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) associated with obesity. Our laboratory has shown alterations in both core and outer-arm fucosylation in HCC. These glycan modifications have promise as biomarkers of cancer and are actively being commercialized by a number of groups (including us). We have a developed a diagnostic panel that is comprised of clinical data along with one additional novel biomarker, fucosylated kininogen, that dramatically improves upon the detection of HCC, and in particular, the identification of those with early stage HCC. In an effort to identify the source of fucosylated serum glycoprotein, we have developed a novel method for tissue-based glycan analysis. In an analysis of 145 HCC tissue and 112 adjacent control or cirrhotic tissue control samples, we have identified two major changes in the N-linked glycan family that are associated with HCC. The first change observed was increased levels of fucosylation, a modification also often observed in serum of patients with HCC. However, ~50% of the tissue samples analyzed had no increase in fucose. Often these tumors without increased fucosylation had increases in tetra-antennary glycan. We hypothesize that the genetic heterogeneity of the tumor might have an impact upon the glycan heterogeneity in the tissue and serum. Consequently, the glycans may not only be used as biomarkers for the early detection of cancer but offer information into the specific genetics of the cancer. In this application, we will link the glycomic changes observed in both tissue and serum with the underlying genetic changes. As we will have matching tissue and serum, we will be able to determine if our current biomarker panel is capable of identifying fucose negative HCC. Lastly, we will utilize several proteomic and glycomic methods to identify biomarkers for cancer without increased levels of fucosylation.