MUC1 overexpression in glioma correlated with tumor malignancy and poor prognosis

Mucin 1 (MUC1), a transmembrane glycoprotein, is aberrantly expressed in multiple cancers and implicated in tumor progression. This study investigated MUC1 expression in glioma tissues and cell lines, its correlation with tumor malignancy, and the effect of differential expression on patient prognosis. Bioinformatics analysis using the GEPIA database evaluated MUC1 expression in pan-cancer and its effect on the prognosis of glioma patients. Clinical samples from 9 glioma patients with WHO grades II-IV and 2 normal brain tissues with traumatic brain injury controls were analyzed via immunohistochemistry. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to analyze MUC1 expression in glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines (U251, U87, A172, LN229) and normal human astrocytes (NHA). MUC1 was significantly overexpressed in glioma tissues compared to normal brain tissue (p < 0.05), with higher expression correlating with advanced tumor grade. High MUC1 levels predicted poor patient survival (p < 0.01). GBM cell lines exhibited elevated MUC1 mRNA and protein levels vs. NHA (p < 0.001). MUC1 correlation with glioma malignancy and patient outcomes represents a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target, underscoring its relevance in neuropathology practice.