Fig. 9

Proposed function of fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) in breast cancer progression. Our genetic and pharmacological studies demonstrate that FUT8 is upregulated during epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells, and core fucosylation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptors enhances ligand binding and promotes downstream signaling activity, for a highly invasive and aggressive phenotype in metastasis of breast cancer cells. Genetic inactivation and pharmacologic inhibition of FUT8 dampens TGF-β receptor core fucosylation, thereby leading to reduced ligand binding and signal strength, which suppresses EMT and therefore cell migration, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells, pointing to FUT8 as a vital target for breast tumors