What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to analyze the role of GALNT2 in cancer, focusing on its expression patterns and prognostic implications across multiple cancer types.

April 3, 2026Open Access

Unveiling the implications of GALNT2, a key glycosylation enzyme, in pan-cancer: A comprehensive multidatabase study

Puntos clave

The study aims to analyze the role of GALNT2 in cancer, focusing on its expression patterns and prognostic implications across multiple cancer types.
Analyzed GALNT2 expression across 33 cancer types using several public databases.
Constructed protein-protein interaction networks using Cytoscape.
Assessed functional enrichment via gene set enrichment analysis.
Performed receiver operating characteristic analysis to evaluate diagnostic value.
GALNT2 was significantly overexpressed in multiple cancers including bladder and breast carcinomas.
High GALNT2 expression correlated with advanced cancer stages and metastasis.
Low GALNT2 levels associated with better overall survival in certain kidney and lung cancers.
High diagnostic value (AUC > 0.8) for GALNT2 in 13 cancer types was identified.

Resumen

Background: GALNT2, a key enzyme that initiates mucin-type O-glycosylation, plays a critical role in the malignant transformation and progression of tumors. However, their pan-cancer expression patterns, prognostic significance, and biological functions remain poorly understood. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the role of GALNT2 in cancer using multidatabase integration. Methods: We analyzed GALNT2 expression, clinical relevance, genetic alterations, and functional states across 33 cancer types using public databases, including the Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression project, Human Protein Atlas, cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2, Tumor-Immune System Interaction Database, Kaplan–Meier plotter, Cancer Single-Cell State Atlas, and Gene Set Cancer Analysis Lite. Protein–protein interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape, and functional enrichment was assessed using gene set enrichment analysis. Results: GALNT2 was significantly overexpressed in bladder urothelial carcinoma, breast invasive carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, kidney chromophobe, kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and lung squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, high GALNT2 expression correlated with advanced cancer stage and metastasis, whereas low GALNT2 expression was associated with increased overall survival in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, and lung adenocarcinoma. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a high diagnostic value (area under the curve > 0.8) for 13 cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, and skin cutaneous melanoma. GALNT2 interacts with core-1 β1,3-galactosyltransferase and glucosaminyl (N-acetyl) transferase 1 to modulate cancer-related pathways and immune regulation. The results of this study suggest that GALNT2 can be used as a diagnostic, prognostic, and immunological indicator in a spectrum of cancers. Conclusions: GALNT2 exhibits diverse expression, prognostic, and diagnostic profiles across cancer types. Our findings demonstrated that GALNT2 regulates key signaling pathways via glycosylation and interacts with critical genes, highlighting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

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