Serum mucin 3A as a potential biomarker for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Background/Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate serum mucin 3A (MUC3A) as a candidate biomarker for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC). Patients and Methods: 35 Patients with EHCC, 30 patients with pancreatic cancer, 35 patients with gallbladder carcinoma and 78 patients with benign biliary disease were enrolled during January 2015 to January 2016. Serum MUC3A, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured in these patients. Pathology reports of patients with EHCC were collected. Results: (1) The serum levels of MUC3A (87.3 ± 10.8 ng/ml) in patients with EHCC were higher than in patients with pancreatic cancer (63.2 ± 7.7 ng/ml, P < 0.001), patients with gallbladder carcinoma (59.0 ± 10.3 ng/ml, P < 0.001) and patients with benign biliary disease (56.6 ± 13.1 ng/ml, P < 0.001). (2) ROC analysis showed that using MUC3A could clearly distinguish patients with EHCC from those without EHCC with a threshold of 73.2 ng/ml. (3) According to ROC analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of serum MUC3A for diagnosis of EHCC were 94.3%, 89.5% and 90.4%, respectively, which were all significantly higher than CA19-9 and CEA. (4) The serum levels of MUC3A at 1 month post-operatively in 35 patients with EHCC were decreased compared to pre-operative levels (51.8 ± 5.6 vs. 87.3 ± 10.8 ng/ml, P < 0.01). (5) Compared with 20 patients with low MUC3A levels (≤88.8 ng/ml), 15 patients with high MUC3A levels (>88.8 ng/ml) had higher percentage of lymph node metastasis (66.7% vs. 25%, P = 0.014), surrounding tissue infiltration (80% vs. 30%, P = 0.003), and UICC staging IIa-III (86.7% vs. 35%, P = 0.002). Conclusion: The diagnostic efficiency for EHCC of MUC3A is obviously superior to CA19-9 and CEA, and a high level of serum MUC3A indicates a poor prognosis, therefore, MUC3A can be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for EHCC.

High Level of Serum Coiled-coil Domain Containing 25 (CCDC25) as a Diagnostic Marker for Cholangiocarcinoma But Not for Other Cancers

“…In addition, our previous study revealed that the serum CCDC25 level could distinguish in vivo 37: 294-303 (2023) CCA from benign biliary disease (BBD) (7). Furthermore, serum CCDC25 levels could discriminate CCA patients from HC more effectively compared with commonly used biomarkers including CEA and CA19-9 (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), and liver function tests including AST, ALT, and ALP. In addition, the results showed no correlation between serum ALP, CEA, CA19-9 levels and CCDC25 levels in CCA which are consistent with our previous study and indicated that CA19-9 and CEA were not correlated with serum CCDC25 levels in CCA patients (7).…”

MUC3A promotes the progression of Cholangiocarcinoma through the MAPK/ERK pathway

“…The role of MUC3A in the occurrence and development of various tumors indicates its broad prospects in tumor treatment. Previous studies have found differences in the expression levels of MUC3A in cholangiocarcinoma and adjacent tissues, and the expression of MUC3A is closely related to patient survival, suggesting its value in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (20). Targeted drugs can be developed to delay patient survival.…”

“…Previous studies have found that human bile contains MUC1, MUC3A, and MUC5B, and there are differences in the expression levels of MUC3A in cholangiocarcinoma and adjacent tissues, with the expression status of MUC3A impacting the survival of patients with cholangiocarcinoma (20). However, the role of MUC3A in the development of cholangiocarcinoma and its mechanism remain unclear.…”

MUC14-Related ncRNA-mRNA Network in Breast Cancer

“…Moreover, dysregulated MUCs are reported to serve as potential biomarkers in multiple tumor types. For instance, serum MUC3A is a potential diagnostic biomarker for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [11]; high expression of MUC3A is associated with localized clear-cell renal cell carcinoma [12]; bone marrow MUC4 expression had significant prognostic value in acute myeloid leukaemia [13].…”