HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Longman, R J Articles by Thomas, M G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Longman, R J Articles by Thomas, M G Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Colorectal Cancer

Lack of mucin MUC5AC field change expression associated with tubulovillous and villous colorectal adenomas

¹ University Department of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
² University Department of Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary
³ Department of Cellular Pathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK

Mr Longman email: Rob.Longman{at}bristol.ac.uk Background—MUC5AC is a secreted mucin aberrantly expressed by polypoid colorectal adenomas. It has been hypothesised that the "normal" surrounding colorectal mucosa expresses MUC5AC as a field change phenomenon that can be used to predict adenoma recurrence following resection.

Aim—To determine if there is a field change of de novo MUC5AC expression in histologically normal rectal mucosa adjacent to villous and tubulovillous adenomas, and thus whether MUC5AC expression can be used as a marker of early tumour recurrence.

Methods—In a prospective cohort study paired mucosal biopsies of adenomatous and macroscopically "normal" mucosa were obtained from 11 patients with villous and 11 patients with tubulovillous adenomas who underwent primary resection for purpose of cure. The tissues were studied to determine MUC5AC gene expression by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. Patients were followed up by flexible sigmoidoscopy to detect the presence of early local recurrence.

Results—10 villous adenomas showed mature MUC5AC glycoprotein and all 11 expressed MUC5AC mRNA. Five tubulovillous adenomas showed mature MUC5AC glycoprotein and 10 expressed MUC5AC mRNA. Neoexpression of the MUC5AC mucin gene was not detected in any of the mucosal biopsies taken adjacent to either villous or tubulovillous adenomas, even in three patients with early, locally recurrent disease.

Conclusions—Aberrant MUC5AC gene expression is not a "field change" in the colorectal mucosa in patients with rectal adenomas and therefore cannot be used to predict local recurrence of villous and tubulovillous adenomas.

Key Words: mucin • colorectal adenoma • gene expression • field change

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. J. Longman, R. Poulsom, A. P. Corfield, B. F. Warren, N. A. Wright, and M. G. Thomas Alterations in the Composition of the Supramucosal Defense Barrier in Relation to Disease Severity of Ulcerative Colitis J. Histochem. Cytochem., December 1, 2006; 54(12): 1335 - 1348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]