MUC2 but not MUC5 expression correlates with prognosis in radically resected pancreatic cancer patients

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal cancer with less than 10% long-term survivors. The apoptotic pathway deregulation is a postulated mechanism of carcinogenesis of this tumor. The present study investigated the prognostic role of MUC2 and MUC5 apomucin expression in a series of surgically resected pancreatic cancer patients. Results: By univariate analysis, survival was influenced by MUC2 expression but not by MUC5 expression. The MUC2 overexpression was associated with better prognosis (p = 0.003). By a multivariate Cox regression analysis, MUC2 overexpression maintained the prognostic statistical value. In particular, patients with high MUC2 staining showed a longer survival. Moreover the present study does report the absence of a prognostic role of MUC5 expression in this type of cancer. Material and methods: All patients affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and treated with surgical resection from 1988 2003 were considered for the study. MUC2 and MUC5 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Tumor specimens of 59 resected patients were included in the study. Conclusions: the study demonstrated the prognostic relevance of MUC2 expression in pancreatic cancer and underlined its potential role as target gene in the field of therapy research.