The expression of MUC mucin in cholangiocarcinoma.
Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a highly malignant epithelial cancer of the biliary tract, the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of which remains unclear. Malignant transformation of glandular epithelial cells is associated with the altered expression of mucin. We investigated the type of mucins expressed in CC. Twenty-six patients with histologically confirmed CC were included in this study. The expression of mucin was studied by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to MUC1, MUC1 core, MUC2, MUC3, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC6. There was extensive (>50%) expression of mucin, mainly MUC1 in 11/25 and MUC5AC in 12/26 cases. In the case of MUC3, 6/26 cases expressed mucin extensively, whilst only 1/26 had MUC2, MUC4, and MUC6 expression. Well-differentiated tumors significantly expressed MUC3 extensively compared to poor or moderately differentiated tumors (p=0.003). Fifteen of 25 cases had metastatic disease. MUC1 was extensively expressed in 9/15 cases with metastatic disease. In contrast, MUC1 expression was present in 2/10 cases where metastases were absent. Hilar lesions were less likely to express MUC1, but this was not statistically significant. Fifteen of 25 cases had metastatic disease. Extensive MUC3 expression was significantly associated with well-differentiated tumors, whilst there was an approaching significance between the extensive expression of MUC1 and metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma.
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. anwar.mall@uct.ac.za
Anwar S
AS
Mall
Marilyn G
MG
Tyler
Sam B
SB
Ho
Jake E J
JE
Krige
Delawir
D
Kahn
Wendy
W
Spearman
Landon
L
Myer
Dhirendra
D
Govender
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000032:analysis; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D055262:Mucin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D055263:Mucin-3 / Q000032:analysis; D055264:Mucin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D055272:Mucin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; C524652:MUC3A protein, human; C524658:MUC4 protein, human; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524734:MUC6 protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D018396:Mucin-1; D055262:Mucin-2; D055263:Mucin-3; D055264:Mucin-4; D055272:Mucin-6; D009077:Mucins