Indeed, by querying The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets, we confirmed that the level of DTDST or ST6GalNAc6 mRNA is substantially decreased at the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis.
Expression of these normal glycans is frequently lost upon malignant transformation by silencing DTDST and ST6GalNAc6 at the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis, and leads to production of inflammatory mediators that facilitate carcinogenesis.
Identification and expression of a sialyltransferase responsible for the synthesis of disialylgalactosylgloboside in normal and malignant kidney cells: downregulation of ST6GalNAc VI in renal cancers.