Arylsulfatases A and B: From normal tissues to malignant tumors

Arylsulfatases are lysosomal enzymes with important roles in the cell metabolism. Several subtypes of arylsulfatase are known, from A to K. Congenital deficiencies of arylsulfatases, especially A (ARSA) and B (ARSB), can induce metabolic disorders such as metachromatic leucodystrophy (ARSA deficiency) and Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (ARSB deficiency). ARSA and ARSB pseudodeficiencies were recently described but their exact roles are far to be known. The aim of this review was to synthesize the literature data, combined with personal results, regarding the roles of ARSA and ARSB in non-tumor disorders but also carcinogenesis. Few than 50 published papers regard ARSA and ARSB expression in cancer. They suggest decreased activity of these arylsulfatases in most of carcinomas, compared with normal tissues. However, the clinical impact is still unknown. Further complex studies are necessary to be done, to understand the role of ARSA and ARSB expression in cancer.