Research progress of GALNT3 as a potential tumor molecular marker and drug target

Abstract

Mucin-type O-glycosylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications in proteins, capable of altering protein conformation and biological functions. It plays a crucial role in biological processes such as cell signaling, cell adhesion, and immune responses. Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 (GALNT3), as the initiating enzyme of mucin-type O-glycosylation, is of paramount importance in maintaining the homeostasis of human cells and tissues. Dysfunction of GALNT3 has been found to play a role in various diseases, such as calcium-phosphorus metabolism disorders and atherosclerosis. Additionally, GALNT3 is abnormally expressed in several types of tumors, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. Its expression is associated with the clinical pathological features of patients and poor prognosis, making it a potential biomarker for early tumor diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. Further research shows that GALNT3 can both regulate glycosylation levels to reduce adhesion between tumor cells and activate multiple metabolism-related pathways, promoting tumor cell invasion and metastasis. This review summarizes the role of GALNT3 in the development of malignant tumors and discusses the prospects and challenges of developing anti-tumor drugs targeting GALNT3.

Keywords

• polypeptide n-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3
• mucin type o-glycosylation
• tumor marker
• hematologic malignancy