Benzyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside (benzyl-α-GalNAc) is an inhibitor of mucin synthesis.1,2,3 It inhibits glucosamine labeling, a marker of mucin synthesis, in Caco-2, HT-29, and T84 colon cancer cells when used at a concentration of 2 mM.1 Benzyl-α-GalNAc (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mg/ml) enhances cell death induced by 5-fluorouracil in Capan-1 and HPAF-II cells.2 LS 174T colon cancer cells grown in the presence of benzyl-α-GalNAc exhibit reduced liver metastasis in a mouse xenograft model compared with control LS 174T cells.3
1.Niv, Y., Byrd, J.C., Ho, S.B., et al.Mucin synthesis and secretion in relation to spontaneous differentiation of colon cancer cells in vitroInt. J. Cancer50(1)147-152(1992) 2.Kalra, A.V., and Campbell, R.B.Mucin impedes cytotoxic effect of 5-FU against growth of human pancreatic cancer cells: Overcoming cellular barriers for therapeutic gainBr. J. Cancer97(7)910-918(2007) 3.Bresalier, R.S., Niv, Y., Byrd, J.C., et al.Mucin production by human colonic carcinoma cells correlates with their metastatic potential in animal models of colon cancer metastasisJ. Clin. Invest.87(3)1037-1045(1991)