title: MUC2 but not MUC5 expression correlates with prognosis in radically  resected pancreatic cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal cancer with less than 10% long-term survivors. The apoptotic pathway deregulation is a postulated mechanism of carcinogenesis of this tumor. The present study investigated the prognostic role of MUC2 and MUC5 apomucin expression in a series of surgically resected pancreatic cancer patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By univariate analysis, survival was influenced by MUC2 expression but not by MUC5 expression. The MUC2 overexpression was associated with better prognosis (p = 0.003). By a multivariate Cox regression analysis, MUC2 overexpression maintained the prognostic statistical value. In particular, patients with high MUC2 staining showed a longer survival. Moreover the present study does report the absence of a prognostic role of MUC5 expression in this type of cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and treated with surgical resection from 1988-2003 were considered for the study. MUC2 and MUC5 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Tumor specimens of 59 resected patients were included in the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated the prognostic relevance of MUC2 expression in pancreatic cancer and underlined its potential role as target gene in the field of therapy research.
authors: Medical Oncology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Pantano
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Baldi
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Santini
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Vincenzi
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Borzomati
authors: Fabio Maria
authors: FM
authors: Vecchio
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Castri
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Antinori
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Caraglia
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Magistrelli
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Coppola
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Tonini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055262:Mucin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055257:Mucin-5B / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; C524578:MUC5B protein, human; D055262:Mucin-2; D055257:Mucin-5B