Comparative evaluation of the prognostic value of MUC1, MUC2, sialyl-Lewis(a) and sialyl-Lewis(x) antigens in colorectal adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The significance of MUC1, MUC2 and sialylated Lewis blood group antigens as prognostic markers in colorectal adenocarcinoma was investigated in a large series of patients because previous investigations revealed inconsistent results due to unrelated tumour samples from different patient groups and methodological differences.


RESULTS
Tissues from 243 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were stained immunohistochemically. MUC1 showed a strong immunoreactivity (in more than 35% of the tumour area) in 32.5%, MUC2 in 51.0%, sialyl-Lewis(x) in 67.9% and sialyl-Lewis(a) in 73.7% of the cases, respectively. MUC1 immunoreactivity displayed a significant correlation with tumour progression as reflected by advancing pTNM staging and poor differentiation. MUC2 expression was significantly stronger in mucinous adenocarcinomas. Sialyl-Lewis(x) immunostaining correlated with the extent of lymph node metastasis as well as low cytological differentiation. According to univariate and multivariate analysis (P < 0.0001) only MUC1 reactivity represented a marker of worse survival probability, opposed to the sialylated Lewis antigens that did not exert a predictive value.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our data, MUC1 and sialyl-Lewis(x) immunoreactivity exhibit statistically significant correlations with established markers of tumour progression. However, only MUC1 presents as an independent prognostic factor of colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Baldus
S E
SE
Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. s-e.baldus@uni-koeln.de
Mönig
S P
SP
Hanisch
F-G
FG
Zirbes
T K
TK
Flucke
U
U
Oelert
S
S
Zilkens
G
G
Madejczik
B
B
Thiele
J
J
Schneider
P M
PM
Hölscher
A H
AH
Dienes
H P
HP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D005732:Gangliosides; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; C064564:sialyl Le(a) ganglioside