Analysis Of The Expression Of Mucins Family In Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia And Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Objective To investigate the significance of the expression of mucins family in Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia(PanIN) and ductal adenocarcinoma (DAC). Methods Detected the expression of MUC1,MUC2,MUC4 and MUC5AC in PanIN, DAC and other pancreatic lesions by means of immunohistochemistry. Results The rate of MUC1 positiveness was zero in low-grade PanINs, whereas in PanIN-2 and PanIN-3 was 25%, 66.7%, respectively. MUC1 was positive in normal pancreas tissues, chronic pancreatitis(CP), and DAC, but in benign tumors was negative. MUC2 was only positive in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). MUC4 was highly expressed in DAC(80.8%), but not detected in normal pancreas tissues, CP, and benign tumors. The rate of MUC5AC positiveness was 97.5% in low-grade PanINs, whereas in high-grade PanINs was 12.5%. The rate of MUC5AC positiveness was 70% in DAC. In one IPMN tissue MUC5AC was positive. MUC5AC was negative in CP and pancreatic benign tumors. Conclusions The expression of mucins asssociated with the carcinogenesis of pancreatic cancer. A mucin profile comprising all 4 mucin antibodies (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6) may be helpful in discriminating DAC with other pancreatic lesions.