N-Acetylglucosamine 6-O-sulfotransferase-2 as a tumor marker for uterine cervical and corpus cancer

N-Acetylglucosamine 6-O-sulfotransferase-2 (GlcNAc6ST2) is ectopically expressed in ovarian mucinous and clear cell adenocarcinoma [Kanoh et al., Glycoconj J 23:453-460, 2006]. Here we studied whether GlcNAc6ST2 protein can be detected in sera from patients with gynecological cancers and could serve as a tumor marker. First, we created a monoclonal antibody and polyclonal antiserum against GlcNAc6ST2. These antibodies were specific for GlcNAc6ST2, as shown by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation. Using these antibodies, we constructed a sandwich ELISA method for detecting GlcNAc6ST2 in the serum. GlcNAc6ST2 provided lower positive rates for ovarian cancer than CA125, but higher positive rates for uterine cervical and corpus cancer than SCC antigens and CA125, respectively. A significantly higher percentage of stage I uterine cervical and corpus cancers were positive for GlcNAc6ST2 than for SCC antigens and CA125, respectively. GlcNAc6ST2 could therefore be a good serological marker for detecting early-stage uterine cervical and corpus cancers.