Cell membrane-anchored MUC4 promotes tumorigenicity in epithelial carcinomas

// Pengpeng Xia 1,2 , Agnes Hakyung Choi 1,2 , Zengping Deng 3 , Yuqian Yang 1,2 , Jing Zhao 1,2 , Yiting Wang 1,2 , Philip R. Hardwidge 4 and Guoqiang Zhu 1,2 1 College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China 2 Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China 3 Nanjing Hospital of T.C.M, Nanjing, China 4 College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA Correspondence to: Guoqiang Zhu, email: // Keywords : MUC4, carcinoma, epithelial, tumorigenicity Received : April 23, 2016 Accepted : October 26, 2016 Published : November 04, 2016 Abstract The cell surface membrane-bound mucin protein MUC4 promotes tumorigenicity, aggressive behavior, and poor outcomes in various types of epithelial carcinomas, including pancreatic, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. This review summarizes the theories and findings regarding MUC4 function, and its role in epithelial carcinogenesis. Based on these insights, we developed an outline of the processes and mechanisms by which MUC4 critically supports the propagation and survival of cancer cells in various epithelial organs. MUC4 may therefore be a useful prognostic and diagnostic tool that improves our ability to eradicate various forms of cancer.