title: MUC2 Expression Is Correlated with Tumor Differentiation and Inhibits Tumor Invasion in Gastric Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While MUC2 is expressed in intestinal metaplasia and malignant lesions, the clinicopathological significance of MUC2 expression is not fully elucidated in gastric carcinoma (GC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study investigated the correlation between MUC2 expression and clinicopathological parameters in 167 human GCs. In addition, to confirm the clinicopathological significance of MUC2 expression, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in 1,832 GCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MUC2 expression was found in 58 of 167 GCs (34.7%). MUC2-expressing GC showed lower primary tumor (T), regional lymph node (N), and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages compared with GCs without MUC2 expression (p=.001, p=.001, and p=.011, respectively). However, MUC2 expression was not correlated with Lauren's classification and tumor differentiation. In meta-analysis, MUC2 expression was significantly correlated with differentiation and lower tumor stage (odds ratio [OR], 1.303; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.020 to 1.664; p = .034 and OR, 1.352; 95% CI, 1.055 to 1.734; p = .017, respectively) but not with Lauren's classification, pN stage, or pTNM stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MUC2 expression was correlated with a lower tumor depth and lower lymph node metastasis in our study; the meta-analysis showed a correlation of MUC2 expression with tumor differentiation and lower tumor depth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Guhyun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungeun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Gu
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Clinicopathological significance; Gastric carcinoma; MUC2; Meta-analysis