Expression of MUC5AC and MUC6 in invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas and relationship with prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
MUC5AC and MUC6 are two major types of mucin that are abundantly present in the stomach; both of them form a gel of high viscosity that provides protection and lubrication. Expressions of MUC5AC and MUC6 are seen in pancreatic neoplasms, whereas the relationships between MUC5AC/MUC6 expression and clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate MUC5AC and MUC6 expressions in IDC with special reference to clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis.


METHODS
Tissue samples were taken from 33 patients with IDC of the pancreas after radical surgical treatment. MUC5AC and MUC6 expressions were examined immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
The expressions of MUC5AC and MUC6 were observed in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. MUC5AC and MUC6 immunoreactivities in the cancer tissues were found in 21 (63.6%) and 15 (45.5%) of 33 cases of IDC of the pancreas, respectively. MUC5AC-negative expression was associated significantly with lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis, and MUC5AC-positive patients showed significant better survival than those MUC5AC-negative patients. MUC6 expression was significantly related to tumor location, whereas MUC6 expression did not show significant relationship with patient survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that MUC5AC expression plays an important role in impacting tumor progression in IDC of the pancreas. MUC5AC expression is a benefit to better survival of patients with IDC of the pancreas. MUC6 expression is not involved in tumor progression in IDC of the pancreas.
Jinfeng
Ma
M
First Department of Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata City, Japan.
Kimura
Wataru
W
Hirai
Ichiro
I
Sakurai
Fumiaki
F
Moriya
Toshiyuki
T
Mizutani
Masaomi
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524734:MUC6 protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins