AIMS: To examine the expression of the MUC2 epithelial mucin in breast carcinoma; to relate this to patient survival. METHODS: Sections from 210 breast carcinomas were stained with the anti-MUC2 core protein monoclonal antibody, 4F1, using an immunoperoxidase technique. The proportion of tumour cells positively stained and the localisation and intensity of any staining were recorded. Expression of MUC2 was compared with histological type and grade, tumour size, presence of nodal metastases, presence of oestrogen receptors, and menopausal status. The prognostic value of MUC2 expression was examined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: MUC2 mucin was detected in 19% of cases of invasive carcinoma, in 11% of cases of carcinoma in situ, where present, but very rarely in adjacent normal breast epithelium. Presence of MUC2 was significantly associated with a shorter disease free interval (p < 0.05), although the observed difference in duration of overall survival was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The MUC2 detected in breast carcinoma may be underglycosylated or staining may represent detection of the protein core before the completion of glycosylation. The virtual absence of 4F1 reactivity in normal breast epithelium suggests that, unlike the MUC1 mucin, the MUC2 mucin is not highly expressed by these cells. The mechanism by which expression of MUC2 affects the biology of breast tumours is unclear, although expression may be a reflection of general derepression of genes during tumour progression.
AIMS: To examine the expression of the MUC2 epithelial mucin in breast carcinoma; to relate this to patient survival. METHODS: Sections from 210 breast carcinomas were stained with the anti-MUC2 core protein monoclonal antibody, 4F1, using an immunoperoxidase technique. The proportion of tumour cells positively stained and the localisation and intensity of any staining were recorded. Expression of MUC2 was compared with histological type and grade, tumour size, presence of nodal metastases, presence of oestrogen receptors, and menopausal status. The prognostic value of MUC2 expression was examined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS:MUC2mucin was detected in 19% of cases of invasive carcinoma, in 11% of cases of carcinoma in situ, where present, but very rarely in adjacent normal breast epithelium. Presence of MUC2 was significantly associated with a shorter disease free interval (p < 0.05), although the observed difference in duration of overall survival was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The MUC2 detected in breast carcinoma may be underglycosylated or staining may represent detection of the protein core before the completion of glycosylation. The virtual absence of 4F1 reactivity in normal breast epithelium suggests that, unlike the MUC1mucin, the MUC2mucin is not highly expressed by these cells. The mechanism by which expression of MUC2 affects the biology of breast tumours is unclear, although expression may be a reflection of general derepression of genes during tumour progression.
Authors: C Wright; B Angus; J Napier; M Wetherall; Y Udagawa; J R Sainsbury; S Johnston; F Carpenter; C H Horne Journal: J Pathol Date: 1987-12 Impact factor: 7.996
Authors: S J Gendler; C A Lancaster; J Taylor-Papadimitriou; T Duhig; N Peat; J Burchell; L Pemberton; E N Lalani; D Wilson Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 1990-09-05 Impact factor: 5.157
Authors: M J Wilkinson; A Howell; M Harris; J Taylor-Papadimitriou; R Swindell; R A Sellwood Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 1984-03-15 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: I O Ellis; C P Hinton; J MacNay; C W Elston; A Robins; A A Owainati; R W Blamey; R W Baldwin; B Ferry Journal: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) Date: 1985-03-23
Authors: I O Ellis; J Bell; J M Todd; M Williams; C Dowle; A R Robins; C W Elston; R W Blamey; R W Baldwin Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 1987-09 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Michael D Walsh; Margaret C Cummings; Sally-Ann Pearson; Mark Clendenning; Rhiannon J Walters; Belinda Nagler; John L Hopper; Mark A Jenkins; Graeme K Suthers; Jack Goldblatt; Kathy Tucker; Michael R Gattas; Julie L Arnold; Susan Parry; Finlay A Macrae; Michael A McGuckin; Joanne P Young; Daniel D Buchanan Journal: Mod Pathol Date: 2013-02-01 Impact factor: 7.842