J Pathol Transl Med.  2015 May;49(3):249-256. 10.4132/jptm.2015.03.27.

MUC2 Expression Is Correlated with Tumor Differentiation and Inhibits Tumor Invasion in Gastric Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

• Pyo JS
• Sohn JH
• Kang G
• Kim DH
• Kim K
• Do IG
• Kim DH

• KMID: 2381384
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2015.03.27

Abstract

BACKGROUND
While MUC2 is expressed in intestinal metaplasia and malignant lesions, the clinicopathological significance of MUC2 expression is not fully elucidated in gastric carcinoma (GC).
METHODS
The present study investigated the correlation between MUC2 expression and clinicopathological parameters in 167 human GCs. In addition, to confirm the clinicopathological significance of MUC2 expression, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in 1,832 GCs.
RESULTS
MUC2 expression was found in 58 of 167 GCs (34.7%). MUC2-expressing GC showed lower primary tumor (T), regional lymph node (N), and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages compared with GCs without MUC2 expression (p=.001, p=.001, and p=.011, respectively). However, MUC2 expression was not correlated with Lauren's classification and tumor differentiation. In meta-analysis, MUC2 expression was significantly correlated with differentiation and lower tumor stage (odds ratio [OR], 1.303; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.020 to 1.664; p = .034 and OR, 1.352; 95% CI, 1.055 to 1.734; p = .017, respectively) but not with Lauren's classification, pN stage, or pTNM stage.
CONCLUSIONS
MUC2 expression was correlated with a lower tumor depth and lower lymph node metastasis in our study; the meta-analysis showed a correlation of MUC2 expression with tumor differentiation and lower tumor depth.

Keyword

Gastric carcinoma; MUC2; Clinicopathological significance; Meta-analysis

MeSH Terms

Classification
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Metaplasia
Neoplasm Metastasis

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Representative images showing immunoreactivity for MUC2 in human gastric carcinoma. (A, B) Well-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma. (C, D) Poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.

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  Fig. 2. Flow chart for study search and selection.

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  Fig. 3. Forest plot diagram for tumor differentiation (A) and Lauren’s classification (B). CI, confidence interval.

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  Fig. 4. Forest plot diagram for pathologic primary tumor (A), regional lymph node (B), and tumor node metastasis (C) stages. CI, confidence interval.

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