MUC expression in adenosquamous carcinoma of the head and neck regions of Japanese patients: Immunohistochemical analysis

Abstract

Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the head and neck regions. We elucidated the relationship between ASC and MUC molecule expression. We selected 14 cases of ASC in the head and neck, and examined them immunohistohcmically. Seven cases of tongue, 3 cases of larynx and 4 cases of hypopharynx carcinoma were selected. Nine (64.3%) of 14 cases showed lymph node metastasis at the diagnosis. Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cases showed a higher stage. Six cases (66.7%), all of which showed lymph node metastases, died of disease. Immunohistochemical examinations showed that ASC was positive for both markers of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. ASC showed positivity for MUC1 (13 cases: 92.3%), MUC1core (12 cases: 85.2%) and MUC4 (12 cases: 85.7%). In rare ASC of the head and neck region, it was revealed that MUC1 and MUC4 expression might be associated with its nodal status.

Immunohistochemical and HPV-related features of laryngeal adenosquamous carcinoma

“…Considering 18 new cases and 75 reported in the literature available at the time, Masand et al [8] concluded that the larynx was the most common site of ASC in the head and neck, with 45 cases (48.4%). Head and neck ASC is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages (stages III-IV), with regional lymph node metastases in between 44.5% and 66.7% of cases [6][7][8]. Local (11.1%-58.3%), rather than regional (8.3%-11.1%), recurrences are quite common [6][7][8].…”

“…Head and neck ASC is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages (stages III-IV), with regional lymph node metastases in between 44.5% and 66.7% of cases [6][7][8]. Local (11.1%-58.3%), rather than regional (8.3%-11.1%), recurrences are quite common [6][7][8]. Compared with conventional head and neck SCC, ASC carries a higher rate of distant metastases (24.7%), the lung being the most often affected site [8].…”

“…The glandular component typically expresses carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and low-molecular-weight cytokeratins (CKs) [4]. The idea of ASC of the head and neck as a separate entity remained controversial for several years because it was considered a high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) [5], but its decidedly worse prognosis (than even high-grade MEC) and morphological and clinical differences justify the distinction between these entities [6].…”

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Esophagus: An NCDB-Based Investigation on Comparative Features and Overall Survival in a Rare Tumor

“…Visualizing components of both AC and SCC in the same tissue sample using light microscopy alone can be challenging, and typically requires confirmation with immunohistochemical markers for each histological type [17] . The complexity inherent in the diagnosis raises the likelihood that ASC can be misdiagnosed as either AC or SCC [8,12,18] .…”

Exploring the role and diversity of mucins in health and disease with special insight into non-communicable diseases

“…[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. It is also being used as disease diagnosis [41-45, 23, 26] and prognosis [46] especially for certain carcinomas like breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric carcinoma. In this review we explored the role of mucin mainly in non-communicable diseases of various organ systems of the human body like Carcinomas, Gastric carcinoma of stomach, Renal clear cell carcinoma, Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease Type 1 kidney, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Hirschsprung's Disease, …”