This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Mucins and CD56 as markers of tumour invasion and prognosis in periampullary cancer. BJS 2010; 97: 1269-1278.

Published: 27th May 2010

Authors: M. M. Aloysius, A. M. Zaitoun, S. Awad, M. Ilyas, B. J. Rowlands, D. N. Lobo et al.

Background

This study investigated the association of mucins and cluster of differentiation (CD) 56 with vascular and perineural invasion and survival in patients with periampullary cancer.

Method

Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin‐fixed pancreatic tissue microarrays (cancer, chronic pancreatitis and normal pancreatic tissue) constructed from 126 pancreatic resections (cancer, 104; chronic pancreatitis, 22). Mucin (MUC) 1, MUC4 and MUC5AC expression was quantified using the immunohistochemical score (range 0–300), MUC3 expression was described as membranous or cytoplasmic, and expression of CD56, MUC2 and MUC6 as present or absent.

Results

In cancers, vascular invasion correlated with overexpression (immunohistochemical score of 100 or more) of MUC1 (P = 0·003) and presence of MUC6 (P = 0·024), and perineural invasion correlated with overexpression of MUC5AC (P = 0·015). Reduced survival was observed with overexpression of MUC4 (P = 0·032) and MUC5AC (P = 0·048), membranous expression of MUC3 (P = 0·048), and presence of CD56 (P = 0·041). Perineural invasion also correlated with CD56 expression (P = 0·001). Overexpression of MUC4 and MUC5AC correlated with tumour recurrence (P = 0·001 and P = 0·034 respectively). Multivariable analysis identified membranous expression of MUC3 (P = 0·023), lymphatic invasion (P = 0·015) and perineural invasion (P = 0·004) as independent predictors of poor survival.

Conclusion

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