MUC2 is an intestinal-type secretory mucin mainly expressed in goblet cells of normal bowel and in intestinal adenocarcinoma, but also in intestinal metaplasia.
MUC2, with MUC5AC, represent a subset of gel-forming mucins. MUC5AC is mainly observed in surface mucous cells of the gastric mucosa and respiratory epithelium.
Interestingly, a significant association is reported between MUC2 and CDX2 expression. Finally, the expression of gel-forming mucins, such as MUC2, seems to be a marker of favorable behavior in patients with pancreatic and mammary mucinous carcinomas.
MUC2 expression, even if with low level, has been also previously reported in a subset of in goblet cell-type mucin-producing adenocarcinoma of the lung. By contrast, MUC5AC expression in lung cancer has been reported as a marker of poor outcome or in association with mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (m-BAC).
See also
mucins (MUCs)
mucinous tumors
- mucinous carcinomas