Expression of MUC1 and MUC4 and its prognostic significance in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Background: Mucin (MUC)1 and MUC4 (MUC1, 4) are high molecular weight glycoproteins expressed in normal and malignant epithelial cells, and these expressions are related to the prognosis of some carcinomas. In non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), the relationship between MUC1, 4 expressions and their prognostic significance is not well known. We evaluated these relationships in a series of NSCLC: 1) between MUC1, 4 expression levels and histologic subtypes, and 2) between high expression of MUC1, 4 and their prognostic significance. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining for MUC1, 4 in paraffin-embedded tissues from 165 NSCLC cases arranged in a tissue microarray. Results: We found a significant correlation between MUC1, 4 expressions and NSCLC histologic subtypes (p < 0.05). High MUC1 expression was characteristic of adenocarcinoma. Low MUC1, 4 expressions were characteristic of squamous cell carcinoma. In adenocarcinoma, we found significant association between diffuse MUC1 expression and short patient survival (p = 0.005). In squamous cell carcinoma, diffuse MUC4 expression showed long patient survival trend (p = 0.128). Conclusions: MUC1, 4 expression levels were significantly correlated with NSCLC histologic subtypes. Diffuse MUC1 expression was significantly associated with shortened survival in NSCLC patients, especially in adenocarcinoma.