Biological and therapeutic significance of MUC1 with sialoglycans in clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) MY.1E12 was applied to detect MUC1 with sialylated glycans in a total of 55 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of ovarian clear cell adenocarcinomas. A reverse correlation between the binding levels of this mAb and patient survival was demonstrated. To examine the role of MUC1 in ovarian clear cell carcinomas, two cDNA encoding MUC1 were transfected into ES-2 ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells. By comparing these cells, the role of MUC1 in tumorigenicity, chemosensitivity and survival under anoikis conditions were assessed. The results indicate that MUC1 expressed on ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells is causally involved in the malignant behavior.