A novel classification of MUC1 expression is correlated with tumor differentiation and postoperative prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
MUC1 is a transmembrane mucin that plays an important role in tumor progression. Many clinical studies have suggested that the expression pattern of MUC1 core protein can be a useful prognostic marker in various malignancies, but the prognostic significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains uncertain. We performed a study to assess clinical significance, especially prognostic impact, of MUC1 expression in NSCLC.


METHODS
A total of 62 patients with completely resected pathologic stage I to IIIA NSCLC were retrospectively reviewed. Histologic sections cut from primary tumors were immunohistochemically stained with an anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody (CA15-3, clone DF3), which recognizes unglycosylated epitope of MUC1 core protein. According to MUC1 expression pattern, each patient was classified into the high-grade polarized expression (HP), the low-grade polarized expression (LP), or the depolarized expression (D) group.


RESULTS
Twenty-four (38.7%), 21 (33.9%), and 17 (27.4%) patients were classified into the HP group, the LP group, and the D group, respectively. HP was exclusively seen in adenocarcinoma, mostly in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. D was correlated with progressive stage and lymph node metastasis. Postoperative survival of the D group seemed to be poorer than that of the HP group for all NSCLC patients, and the difference was enhanced in adenocarcinoma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A novel classification of MUC1 expression pattern (HP, LP, and D) was correlated with tumor differentiation and postoperative survival in NSCLC, especially in lung adenocarcinoma.
Nagai
Shinjiro
S
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Takenaka
Kazumasa
K
Sonobe
Makoto
M
Ogawa
Eiji
E
Wada
Hiromi
H
Tanaka
Fumihiro
F
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins