Mucin core protein expression in colorectal cancers with high levels of microsatellite instability indicates a novel pathway of morphogenesis.

Particular mucinous phenotypes have been associated with serrated epithelial polyps of the colon. These polyps also show a high frequency of DNA instability. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of mucins in colorectal cancers that arise through the suppressor and mutator pathways. The immunohistochemical distribution of the human apomucins MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, and MUC5AC was determined in 93 sporadic colorectal cancers classified previously (J. R. Jass et al., J. Clin. Pathol., 52: 455-460, 1999) according to levels of DNA microsatellite instability (MSI) as 22 MSI-high (MSI-H), 24 MSI-low (MSI-L), and 47 MS stable (MSS). MUC2 expression was observed in 19 (86%) MSI-H, 10 (42%) MSI-L, and 15 (32%) MSS cancers (P = 0.0001); and MUC5AC expression was observed in 17 (77%) MSI-H, 8 (33%) MSI-L, and 13 (28%) MSS cancers (P = 0.0003). There was no association between MUC1 or MUC4 expression and MSI status. The mucinous phenotype described in serrated polyps (MUC2+/MUC5AC+) was seen in 15 (68%) of 22 MSI-H and only 10 (14%) of 71 MSI-L/MSS cancers (P < 0.0001). Increased expression of the secretory mucins MUC2 and MUC5AC was observed in sporadic MSI-H cancers. Identical mucin changes and DNA MSI occurred in serrated polyps of the colorectum, which suggests that these lesions may represent precursors of MSI-H cancers.