Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Research UR12SP14, Mongi Slim Hospital, La Marsa, Tunisia
Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Feb 26;51(1):309-318. doi: 10.3906/sag-2003-29.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Mucins, such as MUC1 and MUC5AC, are known for their protective and moisturizing role in intestinal epithelium. Their expression is tightly controlled given their essential role in normal tissue homeostasis, whereas their deregulation leads to chronic inflammation, and even cancer. This study aimed to assess the expression profiles of MUC1 and MUC5AC and their implications in colorectal carcinogenesis.
A retrospective study of 202 patients who underwent colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery was conducted. The expression of MUC1 and MUC5AC was investigated by immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Statistical analysis of mucin expression pattern, as well as the clinicopathological criteria of the patients, was performed using the chi-square test, survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan—Meier product-limit method, and differences between the survival curves were tested using the log-rank test.
The expression of both mucins was abnormally high in the tumor tissues for both mRNA and protein. MUC1 expression was correlated with advanced cancer stages and lymph node metastases for both the mRNA (P < 0.016 and P < 0.002, respectively) and protein level (P < 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, MUC5AC expression did not pinpoint any significant association between the clinicopathological criteria, but patients who expressed MUC5AC showed an increase in overall survival (P < 0.009).
The expression of MUC1 might be a poor prognostic biomarker in CRC and could play a role in tumor transformation and metastasis. However, MUC5AC expression might be a good prognostic in the Tunisian cohort.
背景/目的：黏蛋白，如 MUC1 和 MUC5AC，因其在肠道上皮中的保护和保湿作用而闻名。鉴于它们在正常组织稳态中的重要作用，其表达受到严格控制，而它们的失调会导致慢性炎症，甚至癌症。本研究旨在评估 MUC1 和 MUC5AC 的表达谱及其在结直肠癌发生中的意义。
对 202 例接受结直肠癌（CRC）手术的患者进行了回顾性研究。通过免疫组织化学和逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）研究 MUC1 和 MUC5AC 的表达。使用卡方检验对黏蛋白表达模式以及患者的临床病理标准进行统计分析，使用 Kaplan-Meier 乘积限法绘制生存曲线，并使用对数秩检验检验生存曲线之间的差异。
两种黏蛋白的 mRNA 和蛋白在肿瘤组织中的表达均异常升高。MUC1 表达与癌症晚期和淋巴结转移有关，无论是在 mRNA 水平（P<0.016 和 P<0.002，分别）还是在蛋白水平（P<0.006 和 P<0.001，分别）。然而，MUC5AC 的表达与临床病理标准之间没有任何显著关联，但表达 MUC5AC 的患者的总生存率增加（P<0.009）。
MUC1 的表达可能是 CRC 的预后不良生物标志物，可能在肿瘤转化和转移中发挥作用。然而，MUC5AC 的表达在突尼斯队列中可能是一个良好的预后标志物。
