JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

Differentiating Neoplastic From Non-neoplastic Gallbladder Lesions Using MUC1 and MUC5AC: An Immunohistochemical Analysis

  • 0Department of Pathology, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur, IND.
Cureus +

|

August 18, 2025

|

August 18, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

MUC1 is a sensitive marker for gallbladder neoplasia, while MUC5AC indicates benign conditions. Their combined use in immunohistochemistry (IHC) aids in differentiating gallbladder lesions, improving diagnostic accuracy.

Area Of Science

  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Surgical Pathology
  • Cancer Biomarkers

Background

  • Gallbladder lesions present diagnostic challenges, especially in early pre-neoplastic stages.
  • Accurate histopathological differentiation is crucial for patient management.
  • Mucin proteins MUC1 and MUC5AC are investigated as potential immunohistochemical (IHC) markers.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate the differential expression of MUC1 and MUC5AC in gallbladder lesions.
  • To assess the utility of MUC1 and MUC5AC as IHC markers for distinguishing neoplastic from non-neoplastic gallbladder pathology.
  • To determine the diagnostic performance of these mucin markers in gallbladder cancer.

Main Methods

  • A cross-sectional study involving 52 gallbladder specimens from cholecystectomy.
  • Routine histopathology combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) for MUC1 and MUC5AC.
  • Semi-quantitative scoring of marker expression and statistical analysis of results.

Main Results

  • MUC1 expression was significantly higher in neoplastic gallbladder lesions (p < 0.001).
  • MUC5AC expression was predominantly observed in non-neoplastic lesions (p < 0.001).
  • MUC1 showed high sensitivity (95.7%) and specificity (75.9%) for neoplasia; MUC5AC demonstrated moderate performance.

Conclusions

  • MUC1 and MUC5AC exhibit distinct expression patterns in gallbladder pathology.
  • MUC1 serves as a sensitive marker for neoplastic transformation, while MUC5AC is indicative of benign or early-stage lesions.
  • Combined application of MUC1 and MUC5AC can enhance diagnostic accuracy for ambiguous gallbladder cases.

Keywords: