Cell membrane-anchored MUC4 promotes tumorigenicity in epithelial carcinomas.
The cell surface membrane-bound mucin protein MUC4 promotes tumorigenicity, aggressive behavior, and poor outcomes in various types of epithelial carcinomas, including pancreatic, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. This review summarizes the theories and findings regarding MUC4 function, and its role in epithelial carcinogenesis. Based on these insights, we developed an outline of the processes and mechanisms by which MUC4 critically supports the propagation and survival of cancer cells in various epithelial organs. MUC4 may therefore be a useful prognostic and diagnostic tool that improves our ability to eradicate various forms of cancer.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
Pengpeng
P
Xia
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
Agnes Hakyung
AH
Choi
Nanjing Hospital of T.C.M, Nanjing, China.
Zengping
Z
Deng
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
Yuqian
Y
Yang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
Jing
J
Zhao
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
Yiting
Y
Wang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
Philip R
PR
Hardwidge
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.
Guoqiang
G
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D055264:Mucin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D055264:Mucin-4
MUC4; carcinoma; epithelial; tumorigenicity