pp-GalNAc-T13 induces high metastatic potential of murine Lewis lung cancer by generating trimeric Tn antigen

► ppGalNAc-T13 was up-regulated in high metastatic sublines of Lewis lung cancer. ► ppGalNAc-T13 expression enhanced cell invasion activity in low metastatic sublines. ► Trimeric Tn antigen was induced in the transfectant cells of ppGalNAc-T13 cDNA. ► A major protein carrying trimeric Tn structure was identified as Syndecan-1. ► Silencing of ppGalNAc-T13 resulted in the reduction of invasion and of metastasis..