Mucin in cancer: a stealth cloak for cancer cells

Abstract

Mucins are high molecular-weight epithelial glycoproteins and are implicated in many physiological processes, including epithelial cell protection, signaling transduction, and tissue homeostasis. Abnormality of mucus expression and structure contributes to biological properties related to human cancer progression. Tumor growth sites induce inhospitable conditions. Many kinds of research suggest that mucins provide a microenvironment to avoid hypoxia, acidic, and other biological conditions that promote cancer progression. Given that the mucus layer captures growth factors or cytokines, we propose that mucin helps to ameliorate inhospitable conditions in tumor-growing sites. Additionally, the composition and structure of mucins enable them to mimic the surface of normal epithelial cells, allowing tumor cells to escape from immune surveillance. Indeed, human cancers such as mucinous carcinoma, show a higher incidence of invasion to adjacent organs and lymph node metastasis than do non-mucinous carcinoma. In this mini-review, we discuss how mucin provides a tumor-friendly environment and contributes to increased cancer malignancy in mucinous carcinoma.

Tertiary lymphoid structures accompanied by fibrillary matrix morphology impact anti-tumor immunity in basal cell carcinomas

“…Further, in some tumors, presence of peritumoral mucin seems to have precluded infiltrating cells from entering tumors ( Supplementary Figure S1 ) leading to comparatively higher TIL counts in distal tumors devoid of peritumoral mucin. Secreted mucins can exert both immunomodulatory roles, through physical barriers and modulating immune activation and function ( 53 ). To truly understand presence of higher TIL counts in distal tumors, spatial significance and local effects of TLS need to be investigated in the presence of specific stains for mucin and amyloid on entire tissue sections.…”

Expression of MUC1 in different tumours and its clinical significance (Review)

“…Mucins are a family of high-molecular weight glycoproteins. In recent years, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that mucins play an important role in the initiation and progression of tumours ( 1 ). Therefore, research on the members of the mucin family has become a hot spot in the field of tumour immunotherapy.…”

Molecular insight of p53/Sp1/MUC5AC axis in the tumorigenesis and progression of lung adenocarcinoma

“…The aberrant expression of the MUC5AC gene, located on chromosome 11p15, has been observed in various malignant conditions, including lung cancer. An increasing body of evidence suggests that MUC5AC is associated with multiple cellular signal pathways, affecting cell proliferation, growth and apoptosis 7–9 . MUC5AC gene expression varies among different subtypes of lung cancer, especially in lung adenocarcinoma, since it may be influenced by distinct signalling pathways involving several genetic alterations.…”

“…An increasing body of evidence suggests that MUC5AC is associated with multiple cellular signal pathways, affecting cell proliferation, growth and apoptosis. [7][8][9] MUC5AC gene expression varies among different subtypes of lung cancer, especially in lung adenocarcinoma, since it may be influenced by distinct signalling pathways involving several genetic alterations. Interestingly, KRAS-mutant ADCs are characterized by high MUC5AC expression which correlated with worse clinical outcomes.…”