Associations of mucinous differentiation and mucin expression with immune cell infiltration and prognosis in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The production of extracellular mucus and expression of mucins are commonly aberrant in colorectal cancer, yet their roles in tumour progression remain unclear.

Methods

To investigate the potential influence of mucus on immune response and prognosis, we analysed mucinous differentiation (non-mucinous, 0%; mucinous component, 1-50%; mucinous, >50%) and its associations with immune cell densities (determined with three multiplex immunohistochemistry assays or conventional immunohistochemistry) and survival in 1049 colorectal cancer patients and a validation cohort of 771 patients. We also assessed expression patterns of transmembrane (MUC1, MUC4) and secreted (MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6) mucins using immunohistochemistry.

Results

Mucinous differentiation was assoc

SUBMITTER: Elomaa H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11961615 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature