Table 3 Main tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens expressed in breast carcinomas

Mucin-type antigens

   Thomsen-nouvelle

COSMC mutation, decrease in C1β3GalT activity

Expressed in almost 90% of breast cancers

   Thomsen-Friedenreich

Decrease in Core2 β6-GlcNAc-T expression, decrease in Core1 sialylation

   Sialyl-Thomsen-nouvelle

Increase in ST6GalNAc I expression, decrease in Core2 β6-GlcNAc-T expression, alteration of COSMC function

25 to 30% of breast cancers, correlated with a decreased survival in node-positive patients

Lewis antigens

   Sialyl-Lewis^x

Increased expression of FucT (FucT VI and FucT VII)

Higher in metastatic compared with nonmetastatic cancers

   Sialyl-Lewis^a

Increased expression of FucT (FucT III)

   Lewis^y

Increased expression of FucT

Overexpressed in 60 to 90% of breast cancer

Gangliosides

   G_M3

Increased expression of ST3Gal V

2.8-fold compared with normal tissue

   G_D3

Increased expression of ST8Sia I

1.7-fold compared with normal tissue

   9-O-acetyl-G_D3

Increase of sialic acid acetylation

   9-O-acetyl-G_T3

Increase of sialic acid acetylation

   N-glycolyl-G_M3

Unknown

100% in stage II primary tumours