MUC5AC expression correlates with invasiveness and progression of extramammary Paget's disease

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2014-06, Vol.28 (6), p.727-732
• Main Authors: Hata, H., Abe, R., Hoshina, D., Saito, N., Homma, E., Aoyagi, S., Shimizu, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Disease Progression; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucin 5AC - genetics; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Paget Disease, Extramammary - genetics; Paget Disease, Extramammary - pathology; Risk Assessment
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12156

Background Patients with in situ extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) tend to have a good prognosis, although dermal invasion and metastasis are associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have addressed mechanisms underlying the EMPD pathogenesis; however, no molecular markers that reflect invasiveness or progression have been established. Objective This study aims to identify a reliable marker for predicting the risk of invasion and metastasis in EMPD. Methods We performed an initial microarray screening for in situ, invasive or metastatic lymph node lesions of EMPD. We analysed 44 specimens from 38 primary EMPD cases by immunohistochemical staining. Results We found that expressions of MUC5AC directly correlate with invasion and prognosis. Labelling rates of tumour cells were scored by staining intensity on a four‐tiered scale (− to 3+) to investigate the correlation between the expression score of these molecular markers and the type of EMPD lesion. All the specimens scored positive (3+) for MUC1 and negative (−) for MUC6. MUC5AC expression was detected in 19 of 44 (43.2%) specimens. Invasive lesions and metastatic lymph nodes tended to express MUC5AC significantly higher than in situ lesions (P