PURPOSE: We examined the
clinical significance of MUC2 and MUC5AC
gene expression in gastric adeno-
carcinoma tissues .
METHODS: Two hundred specimens were obtained from gastric
carcinoma patients who underwent
gastric cancer operations at Samsung Medical Center between January 2001 and January 2005. MUC2 and MUC5AC expression were examined immunohistochemically, and correlated with clinicopathologic features and prognostic significance.
RESULTS: MUC2 expression was positive in 88
tissues (44.0%) and MUC5AC expression was positive in 125
tissues (62.5%). MUC2 expression was associated with
cancer advancement,
lymph node metastasis , T
classification , distant
metastasis , and endolymphatic invasion. Loss of MUC5AC expression was significantly related to
cancer advancement,
lymph node metastasis , advanced T stage, and distant
metastasis . MUC2 expression was usually negative in early
gastric cancer (78%), but usually positive in advanced
gastric cancer (66%). MUC5AC was usually positive in early
gastric cancer (74%). The
prognosis of the MUC2(-) group was significantly better than the MUC2(+) group (P<0.001). There was no relationship with MUC5AC expression and
survival .
Multivariate analysis showed that T
classification ,
lymph node metastasis , distant
metastasis , endolymphatic invasion, and MUC2 expression were independent
prognostic factors , but MUC5AC expression was not.
CONCLUSION: MUC2 and MUC5AC expression correlated with several clinicopathologic
parameters (
cancer advancement,
lymph node metastasis , advanced T
classification , distant
metastasis ). MUC2 expression was a significant independent
prognostic factor and positive MUC2 expression suggested poor
prognosis . MUC2 expression may have prognostic significance in gastric adeno-
carcinomas .