Objective  To investigate the expression of glycosyltransferase enzyme 3 (GCNT3) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and corresponding normal tissues, and to further explore the relationship between GCNT3 expression and clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with NSCLC.

  Methods  In this study, we used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to assess the mRNA and protein expression of GCNT3 in paired NSCLC and non-tumor tissues. In addition, 164 NSCLC patients were estimated for GCNT3 expression by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between GCNT3 expression and clinicopathological features was evaluated. Further, the effects of GCNT3 on the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of NSCLC cells were studied.

  Results  The mRNA and protein expression levels of GCNT3 in NSCLC tissues were both significantly higher than those in the corresponding non-tumor tissues. Among the 164 patients with NSCLC, high GCNT3 expression was associated with gender, smoking, histology, pathological stage, and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis displayed significant differences in OS and PFS among the groups exhibiting differences in GCNT3 expression (P < 0.05). The NSCLC patients with increased GCNT3 expression showed poor OS and PFS. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that GCNT3 expression was as an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC (P < 0.05). Cell function experiments showed that the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of NSCLC cells were significantly attenuated after inhibition of GCNT3 expression (P < 0.05).

  Conclusions  High expression of GCNT3 was associated with unfavorable OS and PFS in patients with NSCLC; GCNT3 might, therefore, act as a prognostic biomarker for NSCLC. Key words glycosyltransferase enzyme 3 (GCNT3), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), immunohistochemistry, prognosis.