GAS3 Does MUC 2 expression in colorectal carcinoma affect prognosis? A review of 41 patients. (Gastroenterology).

GAS3 DOES MUC 2 EXPRESSION IN COLORECTAL CARCINOMA AFFECT PROGNOSIS? A REVIEW OF 41 PATIENTS. Belma Kocer, MD, Atilla Soran, MD, and Omer Cengiz, MD. Ankara Numune Teaching & Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Alterations of mucin glycosylation have been described in colorectal carcinoma. The purpose of our study was to determine alteration of MUC 2 expression colorectal carcinoma, to investigate relationship between clinicopathological parameters with MUC 2 expression and to detennine if alteration of MUC 2 expression was a prognostic factor for colorectal carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining using antibody against MUC 2 tandem repeat synthetic peptides was performed on specimens of colorectal tumors (n 41), their metastatic lymph nodes (n = 21) and normal colonic mucosa (n = 41). Clinicopathological parameters such as age and gender of the patient, location and size, Duke's stage, histological type and grade of the tumour, metastatic lymph node involment, number of metastatic lymph nodes, lymphatic, venousand perineural invasion, presence of preoperative and postoperative metastatic tumour and recurence were evaluated. MUC 2 epitope (CCCP58) was expressed in 51.2% of tumor tissues, 80.5% of normal colonic tiss ues and 52.4% of metastatic lymph nodes. Expression of MUC 2 in lymphatic tissues shows positive correlation with MUC 2 expression in tumour tissues. MUC 2 overexpressed in mucinous carcinoma (100%), while decreasing in adenocarcinoma (45.5%). MUC 2 expression did not show difference with changing of clinicopathological parameters except histologic type. MUC 2 overexpressed in the mucinous carcinoma and decreased in nonmucinous carcinoma. MUC 2 expression did not change with poor clinicopathological parameters and their survival was the same. Therefore alteration in MUC 2 expression in colorectal carcinoma did not have any prognostic value.