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Pattern of MUC6 expression across 119 different tumor types: A tissue microarray study on 15 412 tumors
Sebastian Dwertmann Rico1, Sebastian J A Schliesser1, Natalia Gorbokon1
1Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Pathology International
|April 14, 2023
Summary
Mucin 6 (MUC6) is found in many cancers, but its broad expression across tumor types limits its use for distinguishing specific cancers. This study analyzed MUC6 in over 15,000 tumor samples.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Mucin 6 (MUC6) is a gel-forming mucin present in various tissues.
- MUC6 expression has been observed in several cancer types, potentially aiding tumor distinction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically analyze MUC6 expression in a large cohort of normal and cancerous tissues.
- To evaluate the utility of MUC6 as a diagnostic marker across diverse tumor entities.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was performed on a tissue microarray with 15,412 tumor samples (119 types) and 608 normal tissue samples (76 types).
- Analysis focused on the frequency and intensity of MUC6 immunostaining in different tumor subtypes.
Main Results:
- MUC6 positivity was detected in 42% (50/119) of tumor entities, with strong positivity in 33 entities.
- Frequent MUC6 expression was noted in breast mucinous carcinomas, gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas, and colon neuroendocrine carcinomas.
- Strong MUC6 staining correlated with advanced stage, specific molecular features (e.g., MMR deficiency, ER/PR negativity), and tumor location in colorectal and breast cancers.
Conclusions:
- MUC6 is expressed in a wide array of tumor types, diminishing its specificity for differentiating between distinct entities.
- While MUC6 expression correlates with specific clinicopathological and molecular features in certain cancers, its broad presence limits its diagnostic utility for tumor classification.
