MUC4 expression increases progressively in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Abstract

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is believed to develop from histologically identifiable intraductal lesions known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) that undergo a series of architectural, cytologic, and genetic changes, a progression model similar to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in the colon. The apomucin MUC4 has been implicated in invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma. MUC4 expression is not detectable at the RNA level in normal pancreas but is detectable at high levels in invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We documented the pattern of expression of MUC4 in PanINs by studying a series of 71 PanIN lesions immunohistochemically using a new monoclonal antibody to MUC4. Five (17%) of 30 PanIN-1 lesions, 10 (36%) of 28 PanIN-2 lesions, 11 (85%) of 13 PanIN-3 lesions, and 25 (89%) of 28 invasive adenocarcinomas labeled with the MUC4 antibody used in the study. In addition, afew nonneoplastic lesions labeled with the MUC4 antibody, including reactive ducts in chronic pancreatitis, atrophic ducts filled with inspissated secretions, and ducts showing squamous metaplasia. Our data help establish the patterns of MUC4 expression in neoplastic precursors in the pancreas and add further support to the progression model for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

• Authors: Michael J Swartz, Surinder K Batra, Grish C Varshney, Michael A Hollingsworth, Charles J Yeo, John L Cameron, Robb E Wilentz, Ralph H Hruban, Pedram Argani
• Journal: American journal of clinical pathology (Am J Clin Pathol) Vol. 117 Issue 5 Pg. 791-6 (May 2002) ISSN: 0002-9173 [Print] England
• PMID: 12090430 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• MUC4 protein, human
• Mucin-4
• Mucins

Topics

• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Carcinoma in Situ (metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Count
• Disease Progression
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Mucin-4
• Mucins (metabolism)
• Pancreatic Ducts (anatomy & histology, metabolism)
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)