Expression of MUC1 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma and its relationship with prognosis of patients from Linzhou city, a high incidence area of northern China.
OBJECTIVE
To further characterize the possible relationship between the molecular changes and prognosis of ESC and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved.


METHODS
114 specimens of ESC were collected from Linzhou city, and all patients were followed up for more than 5 years after resection. Histopathological analysis and immunohistochemical staining (ABC) were employed to detect the alteration of MUC1.


RESULTS
The positive immunostaining rate for MUC1 was 79 % (90/114), and the high-expression rate was 63 % (72/114). The mean survival periods (months) of those with high- and low-expression rates of MUC1 were 41 (95 % CI: 35, 47) and 52 (95 % CI: 45, 59), respectively. Patients in the low-expression group obviously survived longer than those in high-expression group, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The expression of MUC1 protein in the esophageal carcinoma specimens with metastasis was stronger than those without metastasis, the difference was also significant (P<0.05). The stepwise multivariate analysis showed that "differentiation", "expression of MUC1" and "TNM staging" were the most important factors affecting the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma patients (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A good correlation between the alteration of MUC1 and the regional lymph node metastasis was observed. Furthermore, high-expression of MUC1 was associated with poor prognosis for esophageal cancer patients. These results indicated that MUC1 is a promising biomarker for predicting lymph node metastasis and prognosis in esophageal cancer.
Song
Zi-Bo
ZB
Institute of Medical Genetics, People's Hospital of Henan Province, 450003, Henan Province, China. zbsong@sohu.com
Gao
Shan-Shan
SS
Yi
Xin-Na
XN
Li
Yan-Jie
YJ
Wang
Qi-Ming
QM
Zhuang
Ze-Hao
ZH
Wang
Li-Dong
LD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018396:Mucin-1