Naila Irum Hadi, Kazi Abdul Shakoor, Nighat Kafil.
Immunohistochemical study of mucins in colorectal carcinoma: could it be a guide for biological behavior?.
J Surg Pak Jan ;14(3):103-7.

Objective: To find out the expression pattern of MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC and its relationship to the site, histological differentiation and stage of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Study design Descriptive study. Place & duration of study: Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi, from June 2008 to December 2008. Patients and Methods The expression of MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC was investigated immunohistochemically in twenty selected cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Data regarding site, histological differentiation, and stage was collected from the files. Tumors were assigned to right colon, left colon and rectum. They were differentiated into well-differentiated, moderately- differentiated and poorly-differentiated tumors and were further grouped into nMUC adenocarcinoma, MUC adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma. Tumors were staged according to Dukes’ classification. Results: All normal colorectal mucosa samples expressed MUC2 but did not show MUC1 and MUC5AC expression. MUC1 expression was found in 15% of tumors originating mostly from proximal colon and were Dukes’ stage C lesions. Less frequent expression was seen in MUC adenocarcinoma (25%), with no expression in signet ring cell carcinoma. MUC2 expression was found in 55% of tumors mostly of rectal origin and mostly Dukes’ stage B lesions. MUC2 expression was more frequent in MUC adenocarcinoma (75%) and signet ring cell carcinoma (100%). MUC5AC was expressed in 30% of tumors mostly arising from rectum and were Dukes’ stage C lesions. Its frequency of staining MUC adenocarcinoma (83%) was more or less the same as that of MUC2. Conclusions: MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC appear to be associated with development of colorectal adenocarcinoma and may help in predicting its biological behavior. MUC2 and MUC5AC expression seen mostly in MUC adenocarcinoma may be particularly helpful in predicting the clinical outcome of this particular type of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com