Immunohistochemical study of MUC1 mucin in premalignant oral lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma - Association with disease progression, mode ofinvasion, and lymph node metastasis
T. Nitta et al., Immunohistochemical study of MUC1 mucin in premalignant oral lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma - Association with disease progression, mode ofinvasion, and lymph node metastasis, CANCER, 88(2), 2000, pp. 245-254
BACKGROUND. MUC1 mucin is a transmembrane, mucin-like glycoprotein encoded
by the MUC1 gene. Although MUC1 expression has been identified in a variety
of neoplastic tissues, to the authors' knowledge, few studies have examine
d MUC1 expression in premalignant and malignant oral lesions.
METHODS. A total of 36 specimens of oral epithelial dysplasia, 12 carcinoma
in situ (CIS) specimens and 77 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (
OSCC), were examined by both light and electron microscopy using immunohist
ochemical staining of MUC1 mucin. Relations between staining patterns and c
linicopathologic findings also were examined.
RESULTS. Distinct membrane MUC1 mucin staining patterns were identified in
epithelial dysplasia (33.0%), CIS (50.0%), and OSCC (59.7%) cases. A predom
inantly cytoplasmic staining pattern was detected in epithelial dysplasia (
5.6%), CIS (41.7%), and OSCC (32.5%) cases. Significant positive correlatio
ns were found between MUC1 mucin membranous immunoreactivity and disease pr
ogression from epithelial dysplasia to OSCC (P < 0.01), mode of tumor invas
ion (P < 0.02), and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the mali
gnant transformation of oral epithelium, tumor invasion, and tumor metastas
is were associated with higher MUC1 mucin expression in the cytoplasm (P <
0.01). In addition to the usual cell surface expression, cytoplasmic expres
sion of MUC1 mucin was confirmed by colloidal gold labeling with transmissi
on electron microscopy.
CONCLUSIONS. The results of the current study suggest that determination of
MUC1 mucin expression may be a parameter in the diagnosis of premalignant
and malignant lesions arising in the oral cavity and that this expression m
ay affect the malignant behavior of OSCC. MUC1 mucin expression may be a us
eful diagnostic marker for prediction of the invasive/metastatic potential
of OSCC. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.