Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Intraoperative Assessment of Resection Margins in Oral Cavity Cancer: This is the Way
Published on: May 10, 2021
Mucin-4: A novel marker for oral cancer
Moulshree Kohli1, Animesh Kumar Shivam2, Puneet Ahuja1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
Mucins are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins and are implicated in diverse biological functions. MUC4, a member of transmembrane mucin family, is expressed in airway epithelial cells and body fluids such as the saliva, tear film, ear fluid and breast milk. In addition to its normal expression, an aberrant expression of MUC4 has been reported in a variety of carcinomas. Till date, very few studies have discussed about MUC4 expression in normal and cancerous oral mucosa.
Aim:
The aim of the study is to evaluate the expression of MUC4 in varying grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and also to analyze its role played in oral carcinogenesis.
Materials And Methods:
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of five cases of normal tissue, ten cases of well-differentiated OSCC, ten cases of moderately differentiated OSCC and ten cases of poorly differentiated OSCC were retrieved from the archives of the department, and MUC4 antigen was immunohistochemically localized.
Statistical Analysis:
The result was subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson's Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance.
Results:
About 70% of OSCC were stained positive with MUC4 antigen. Maximum intensity of staining was noted in well-differentiated OSCC. A steady decrease in MUC4 staining was noted with the increase in histological grading of OSCC.
Conclusion:
The findings of the study suggest that MUC4 plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of OSCC and can be regarded as a novel marker for OSCC.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
01:23Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
01:06Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
01:16Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
Weaning, typically occurring...
01:19Piaget's Stage 4 of Cognitive Development
Abstract Reasoning and Hypothetical-Deductive Thinking
Unlike the concrete operational...
01:20Amides to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction
Amide reduction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent, acting as a source of hydride ions. As shown in the figure, the reaction is initiated with a nucleophilic attack by the hydride ion at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate.