MUC4 (sialomucin complex) expression in salivary gland tumors and squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates MUC4 expression in normal squamous epithelia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT), and in salivary gland neoplasms.


METHODS
MUC4 antigens in tumor and adjacent normal tissue are localized by immunocytochemical studies. Fresh frozen tissues from surgical resection specimens are further analyzed by Western blot.


RESULTS
MUC4 is identified by immunocytochemical staining throughout the normal UADT mucosa, in 34 of 40 primary UADT SCC, and in 11 of 12 metastatic cervical lymph nodes. A trend toward decreased MUC4 staining in moderately and poorly differentiated tumors is noted. Immunoblots show MUC4 in 4 of 5 SCC analyzed. Immunocytochemical staining of MUC4 in 13 major and minor salivary gland neoplasms reveal variable staining of normal and neoplastic tissue. MUC4 is demonstrated in immunoblots of normal parotid tissue and in the single parotid malignancy analyzed, but is not demonstrated in one minor salivary gland malignancy. These findings characterize normal UADT mucosal and salivary MUC4 expression, and MUC4 expression in SCC of the UADT and in salivary gland tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Correlation of MUC4 expression with clinical outcomes may establish MUC4 as a potential molecular prognostic marker for these tumors.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA. dweed@mednet.med.miami.edu
D T
DT
Weed
C
C
Gomez-Fernandez
E
E
Bonfante
T D
TD
Lee
J
J
Pacheco
M E
ME
Carvajal
W J
WJ
Goodwin
K L
KL
Carraway
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055264:Mucin-4; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524658:MUC4 protein, human; D055264:Mucin-4; D009077:Mucins