Mucins (MUC1-MUC24) are a family of
glycoproteins involved in cell signaling and barrier protection. They have been implicated in the progression of numerous
malignancies including gastric, pancreatic, ovarian, breast, and
lung cancer.
Mucins have also been extensively studied with respect to
colorectal cancer. They have been found to have diverse expression profiles amongst the normal colon, benign hyperplastic
polyps, pre-malignant
polyps, and
colon cancers. Those expressed in the normal colon include MUC2, MUC3, MUC4, MUC11, MUC12, MUC13, MUC15 (at low levels), and MUC21. Whereas MUC5, MUC6, MUC16, and MUC20 are absent from the normal colon and are expressed in
colorectal cancers. MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC6 are currently the most widely covered in the literature regarding their role in the progression from normal colonic tissue to
cancer.