title: Gastric mucin expression in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are currently no accepted clinical guidelines for the surveillance of first-degree relatives (FDRs) of gastric cancer patients. The existence of intestinal metaplasia, as well as altered mucin expression, might be associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer. In the present study we aimed to investigate the mucin phenotype of individuals with a family history of gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included FDRs of gastric cancer patients. Individuals with functional chest pain served as controls. Upper endoscopy including extensive biopsy according to the Olga protocol was performed. Immunohistochemical staining for MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 was performed. Sera were assayed for pepsinogen I and II. Helicobacter status was determined through Giemsa staining and serological tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty FDRs and eight controls were included; the mean age was 46.7 ± 12.0 years. In both the study group and the control group there were no gross endoscopic findings and no histological evidence of intestinal metaplasia. Superficial MUC1 expression was significantly increased in the study group (47.5 vs. 0%; P=0.01). There was no difference in the expression of deep MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, or MUC6 between the groups, nor was there a difference in pepsinogen I/II levels or Helicobacter pylori exposure (35.0 vs. 25.0%; P=0.46).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite normal appearing mucosa and the absence of intestinal metaplasia according to histological analysis, FDRs of gastric cancer patients show increased expression of MUC1, which may serve as a predictor of future intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and cancer. Further studies are needed to verify these findings and their implications.
authors.affiliation: Departments of aGastroenterology bPathology cGastroenterology Laboratory, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus dDepartment of Pathology, Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Campus eThe Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boltin
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gingold-Belfer
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dickman
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Layfer
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilkin
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niv
authors.forename: Zohar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Levi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000235:genetics*; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D055262:Mucin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D055272:Mucin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C060192:MUC1 protein, human; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524734:MUC6 protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D018396:Mucin-1; D055262:Mucin-2; D055272:Mucin-6