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Background:
Systematic Review

The Role of Mucin Expression in the Diagnosis of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review

by
Nikhil Manish Patel
1,2,
Georgios Geropoulos
2,
Pranav Harshad Patel
1,2,
Ricky Harminder Bhogal
1,2,
Kevin Joseph Harrington
1,3,
Aran Singanayagam
4 and
Sacheen Kumar
1,2,5,*
1
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
2
The Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Research Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, UK
3
Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, UK
4
Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
5
Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic London Hospital, London SW1X 7HY, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2023, 15(21), 5252; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15215252
Submission received: 11 September 2023 / Revised: 28 October 2023 / Accepted: 30 October 2023 / Published: 1 November 2023
(This article belongs to the Topic Biomarker Development and Application)
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Abstract

:

Simple Summary

Oesophago-gastric cancers are associated with poor survival due to late diagnosis. By the time patients present to their doctor, there is a high chance the disease has spread around the body. Currently, less than 40% of patients with oesophago-gastric cancer can be treated with potentially curative intent. Non-invasive testing of patients who are at higher risk of oesophago-gastric cancer may help to identify these cancers earlier, before they have spread around the body, potentially increasing chances of cure. Mucins are proteins that are found throughout the digestive system and involved in the development of this disease. In this study, the literature on the role of mucins in the diagnosis of oesophago-gastric cancer has been reviewed. Mucins MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 were the most frequently implicated in oesophago-gastric cancer. Further study of these mucins in high-risk populations may reveal new markers for non-invasive early diagnostic testing for oesophago-gastric cancer.

Abstract

Survival in oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC) is poor due to early diagnostic challenges. Non-invasive risk stratification may identify susceptible patients with pre-malignant or benign disease. Following diagnostic confirmation with endoscopic biopsy, early OGC may be treated sooner. Mucins are transmembrane glycoproteins implicated in OGC with potential use as biomarkers of malignant transformation. This systematic review defines the role of mucins in OGC diagnosis. A literature search of MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed following PRISMA protocols for studies published January 1960–December 2022. Demographic data and data on mucin sampling and analysis methods were extracted. The review included 124 studies (n = 11,386 patients). Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAc) was the commonest OG malignancy (n = 101) followed by oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAc, n = 24) and squamous cell carcinoma (OSqCc, n = 10). Mucins MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 were the most frequently implicated. High MUC1 expression correlated with poorer prognosis and metastases in OSqCc. MUC2 expression decreases during progression from healthy mucosa to OAc, causing reduced protection from gastric acid. MUC5AC was upregulated, and MUC6 downregulated in GAc. Mucin expression varies in OGC; changes may be epigenetic or mutational. Profiling upper GI mucin expression in OGC, with pre-malignant, benign and healthy controls may identify potential early diagnostic biomarkers.

1. Introduction

Oesophageal (OC) and gastric cancers (GC) have been identified as ‘cancers of unmet need’ due to their late diagnosis and subsequent poor survivability [1]. Diagnosing these malignancies early to enhance the chances of curing patients is challenging, and, consequently, the 5-year survival rates of these diseases are reported to be as low as 15.0% for OC and 21.6% for GC in the United Kingdom (UK) [2]. Improving the potential for cure is a challenge on a global scale as GC and OC are the third and sixth highest causes of death, respectively [3].
Due to the expansile nature of the oesophagus and stomach, early cancers rarely present with upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The typical ‘red flag’ symptoms, which include dysphagia, vomiting, weight loss and anaemia, that trigger patients to consult their doctors, and, subsequently, undergo investigations such as oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) are often indicative of advanced disease. Therefore, after eventually presenting to a medical professional, only 39.2% of patients are suitable for treatment with curative intent after a formal diagnosis of oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC) [4,5,6].
Early diagnosis, in conjunction with multi-modal therapy, is crucial for affording patients with these cancers a better chance at survival [5]. Although this may include chemotherapy or recruitment to clinical trials if appropriate, earlier diagnosis could allow a higher proportion of patients to undergo potentially curative treatment, including perioperative chemotherapy and radical surgery [6].

1.1. Current Technologies in Early Diagnosis of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer

Early diagnosis could be achieved through risk-stratification testing, which could crucially identify patients susceptible to or with early and potentially curable OGC, who would then undergo OGD and biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and obtain tissue to plan definitive treatment. Currently, there are no risk-stratification tests available in mainstream practice, and, consequently, the assessment of clinical factors is a mainstay of estimating the risk of potential OG malignancy. Recognised carcinogens include smoking and alcohol in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSqCc), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is associated with increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAc), and Helicobacter pylori predisposes patients to gastric cancer (GC) [7,8]. However, a number of different technologies are in developmental phases with the aim of achieving early diagnosis in OGC. One example is the Cytosponge-trefoil factor 3 test; a non-endoscopic cell collection device with an immunohistochemical biomarker is used to diagnose Barrett’s metaplasia, the pre-malignant precursor lesion to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAc) [9]. The aim is for this device to be established in the community, to identify patients, who are more susceptible to OAc, so that they are prioritised for endoscopic surveillance. However, this device has been met with variable acceptability among trial populations, due to discomfort experienced when attempting to swallow the Cytosponge and in extracting it from the oesophagus by pulling on the string attached to it [10]. Furthermore, this device may only be able to detect potential Barrett’s metaplasia and adenocarcinoma limited to the oesophagus and cardia of the stomach alone, and not more distal gastric or fundal cancers, limiting its use.
In comparison, patients may be more likely to engage with non-invasive testing methods, which may be less uncomfortable and easier to adhere to, leading to greater compliance and yield of results. This would enable the test to be adopted by larger populations to afford the benefits of early cancer diagnosis on a greater scale; identifying more patients at risk of disease. One such example involves the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as diagnostic biomarkers of OGC in exhaled breath and urine samples [11,12,13]. Exhaled breath analysis has been well established for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection: a carcinogen for GC, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and asthma. However, testing for VOCs in exhaled breath and biofluids (e.g., urine) is yet to be proven as a reliable and reproducible method for identifying those at risk of OGC.

1.2. The Structure and Function of Mucins

Mucins are heavily glycosylated, high molecular weight (>200 kDa) transmembrane glycoproteins with one epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain and are coded by MUC genes [14]. They are produced by epithelial cells and classified by function and structure into two groups: transmembrane or secretory mucins. They are found throughout the body, including in the trachea and the upper GI tract [14].
Secretory mucins are coded by genes including MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6 and produce a mucous gel, which protects and lubricates the underlying epithelial cells lining the upper GI tract [14,15,16,17,18,19]. In particular, a mucus-layer, predominantly composed of the MUC5AC mucin acts as a diffusion barrier, protecting underlying surface epithelial cells from luminal hydrochloric acid and subsequent erosion [17].
Transmembrane mucins, encoded by genes MUC1, MUC4, MUC13 and MUC16, contribute to this protective gel and are found in the epithelial cell membrane, allowing them to interact with cell surface molecules. They are key components of signal transduction in cell-to-cell signalling [14,15,16,17,18,19].
Mucins are extremely versatile and are involved in many complex pathophysiological processes. Their uses range from markers of disease severity to potential druggable targets to improve clinical outcomes, as well as biomarkers of early cancer [20,21,22,23]. An example of the former is the induction of MUC5AC during virus-induced exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, resulting in increased airway inflammation and severity of the exacerbation [24].

1.3. Mucins in Tumourigenesis

The scientific literature alludes to solid organ malignancies using mucins to promote tumourigenesis and metastasis by potentiating their functions in epithelial protection and intercellular signalling [21]. A proposed model is that immune effector cells produce inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) that activate transcription factors including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3 in epithelial cells lining the GI tract [25,26,27]. Although MUC2 limits the inflammatory response at the apical membrane, and the activation of MUC1 is associated with the promotion of cell proliferation and survival, chronic inflammation and prolonged stimulation of these pathways result in epithelial cells becoming susceptible to the accumulation of genetic mutations leading towards tumourigenesis [26].
Chronic inflammatory stimulation may occur from smoking or alcohol consumption, demonstrating an association between carcinogens and altered mucin gene expression, leading to the development of cancer [25]. Aberrant mucin gene expression may occur as a result of epigenetic influences, resulting in exposure of the underlying epithelium, leading to epithelial injury by gastric acid or microorganisms, neoplasia and metastatic disease [26,27,28]. In the case of OC, this extends to the progression of the pre-malignant condition, Barrett’s metaplasia to OAc [18,29].
The scientific literature suggests an interplay between chronic inflammatory stimulation and epigenetic influence leading to aberrant mucin gene expression and eventually the development and progression of OGC. Examples of chronic inflammatory processes include exposure to environmental factors including smoke and pathogenic infections, which increase the chances of epigenetic modifications within healthy cells, eventually leading to tumourigenesis [30]. Modifications include DNA methylation and histone acetylation, resulting in the downregulation of tumour suppressor genes and promotion of oncogenes, contributing to the development of malignancy. Pro-inflammatory cytokines including interferon-γ and TNF-α correlate with the levels of methylation and together with reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released by tumour cells, driving the progression of cancer and metastasis through a positive feedback loop [30]. Epigenetic modifications triggered by inflammation, including site-specific DNA methylation and histone modification of mucin genes result in the silencing of tumour suppressor genes. Mucin genes including MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 are typically expressed in epithelial cells and are highly susceptible to the aforementioned modifications, leading to a greater risk of malignant transformation to OGC [31].

1.4. Methodologies in the Analysis of Mucin Expression in Oesophago-Gastric Tissue

Mucin expression in oesophago-gastric biopsies or surgically resected specimens may be elucidated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect mucin RNA or in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical staining after interrogation with mouse monoclonal antibodies to quantify the expression of mucin core polypeptides [32,33,34].
Mucins have been implicated in the diagnosis, metastatic spread and recurrence of OGC [18,22,25,28,35]. The included studies describe ways in which mucins and their subcomponents, their epitopes and core polypeptides, can be used as the markers of progression from pre-malignant lesions to cancer, disease severity as well as the indicators of invasion and metastases.
The aim of this systematic literature review is to define the role of mucins in the diagnosis of OGC, in particular, to highlight which mucins may be implicated in OGC.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Search Strategy

This systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) and Synthesis without Meta-Analysis protocols in observational studies and randomized trials [36,37]. It was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO); registration number CRD42022324756.
A literature search of Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane databases was carried out by two co-authors, N.P. and G.G., on 1 July 2023 to capture studies published between January 1960 and December 2022. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)’s terms were included in the search string: ‘mucin,’ ‘oesophageal cancer,’ ‘gastric cancer’ and ‘diagnosis’. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are shown in Table 1, and the total number of included studies is shown in Figure 1.

2.2. Data Extraction

Two reviewers (N.P. and G.G.) independently screened titles and abstracts. Any conflicts were resolved following a discussion over the relevant study or with a senior reviewer if necessary. Studies eligible for inclusion were read in full before data relevant for the systematic review were extracted with the use of a data collection table. A PRISMA flow diagram is presented in Figure 1. Demographic components of included studies and the number of studies analysing each type of cancer and mucin are presented in Table 2 and Figure 2.

2.3. Study Quality and Risk of Bias Assessments

The modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale for non-randomised cohort studies was used by two co-authors (N.P. and G.G.) to assess study quality and risk of bias, the results of which are summarized in Figure 3 and Supplementary Table S1 [38]. Each component of this scale is scored from 0 to 2 stars, allowing for a semi-quantitative assessment of study quality in which the level of bias in cohort selection, study design and assessment of outcomes for each included study may be rated. Two stars represent a low level of bias, and 0 stars represents a high level of bias. In this scale, the term ‘bias’ relates to how representative the data of each study are of wider, more diverse populations, and, therefore, how applicable the data are on a larger scale. The less representative and the less applicable, the higher the level of bias, and the lower the quality of the study as indicated by the scale.

2.4. Data Availability

Data were extracted from each of the included studies and analysed for the purposes of this systematic literature review. Evidence of the demographics of each study was collated. These included sampling techniques, mucins studied, analysis technique as well as a summary of the findings of each study. A subgroup analysis of each of the 3 types of malignancy was carried out and discussed individually.

3. Results

The initial literature search identified 3228 studies. After screening and assessment for full-text eligibility, 124 studies reporting 13,840 cancer specimens were included. The majority of studies were clinicopathologic and molecular analyses (87%), followed by cohort (9%), clinicopathologic and gene studies (2%) and population-based case–control studies (2%). The median age of patients was 63 years, and the most commonly used method of sampling was via surgical resection (72%) followed by endoscopic biopsy (16%).
The most frequently analysed mucin was MUC2, investigated in 73 out of 124 studies (59%) followed by MUC5AC in 65 studies (52%), MUC1 in 54 studies (44%) and MUC6 in 52 studies (42%).
The most analysed pathology was gastric adenocarcinoma (GAc), in 101 out of 124 studies (81%) followed by oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAc) in 24 studies (19%). Within OAc, four studies (3%) specified the investigation of adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJc).

4. Discussion

Underpinning this systematic literature review is the importance of early diagnosis in improving survival in oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC). We addressed this by exploring whether mucins have a role in enabling early diagnosis; we reviewed the most commonly analysed mucins, sampling and analysis techniques and the correlation between the mucin expression and the stage of disease.

4.1. Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A total of 10 studies included the analysis of mucins in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSqCc). All specimens were obtained by surgical resection and, MUC1 was the most commonly analysed mucin (8 out of 10 studies). Guillem et al. identified that all squamous cell epithelium, despite not being mucus-secreting, expresses both MUC1 and MUC4 and maintains this in OSqCc [35].
The expression of MUC1 has been linked to cancer invasion and metastasis, as well as being seen as a biomarker that can distinguish between pre-cancerous and healthy tissue [39,40,41,42]. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to identify MUC1 expression at the protein and mRNA level, respectively. Although the upregulation of MUC1 in the primary tumour correlates with metastatic recurrence after surgical resection (p < 0.01), there has been little research into the use of MUC1 expression alone in the diagnosis of OSqCc [39]. In comparison, three studies commented on the use of MUC1 gene expression in the primary tumour as a predictor of cancer metastasis, and one study on the presence of MUC1 as a predictor of lymph node (LN) recurrence [40,41,42]. The proposed mechanism implies that MUC1 can be expressed on the entire cell surface and reduces both E-Cadherin-mediated cell-to-cell adhesion through steric hindrance and integrin-mediated cell adhesion through the extracellular matrix, thereby promoting systemic disease spread [40,42].
Furthermore, Song et al. identified significant overexpression of MUC1 in the cases of OSqCc with LN metastases, in comparison to those without metastases [38]. Their study identified that high expression of MUC1, classified as >50% of neoplastic cells with positive immunostaining, is related to poorer prognosis of OSqCc compared to low levels of MUC1 expression (0 to 50% positive staining) (p < 0.05). The expression of MUC1 protein in OSqCc specimens with metastasis was also higher than those without metastasis (p < 0.05). Additionally, three studies identified a positive correlation between the levels of MUC1 expression and the degree of LN metastases [39,40,42]. This may suggest that high MUC1 expression may have a role as an indicator of risk of LN metastases, which is associated with poorer outcomes in oesophageal carcinoma [5,42].
In comparison, one study reported that the MUC4 gene was expressed in all stages of OSqCc differentiation [35]. Guillem et al. investigated MUC gene expression in normal and pre-malignant oesophageal mucosa from 40 surgical specimens in patients undergoing oesophagectomy for Barrett’s oesophagus with OAc, or for OSqCc, and identified that MUC1 and MUC4 were the most frequently expressed mucin genes [35]. In particular, MUC4 was expressed more intensely than MUC1 in superficial epithelium based on signals obtained via in situ hybridisation. However, both mucin genes were expressed in normal mucosa and OSqCc, which suggests that alone they could not be used as diagnostic biomarkers or in risk stratification for OSqCc. Therefore, analyses such as ELISA or antibody detection-based Western blot could be used to quantify the differences in the presence of MUC4 mucin in healthy and cancerous oesophageal tissue. However, ELISA and Western blot are limited in terms of clinical translation into diagnostic tests. Therefore, novel assays must be developed for clinical application before MUC4 could be used as a possible diagnostic biomarker of oesophageal cancer.
In order to develop an effective risk stratification test, patient acceptability of the test is an important factor for consideration. Biological samples that can be obtained through non-invasive means such as saliva, could be targeted to identify biomarkers indicative of neoplasia. Oesophageal mucus, secreted by submucosal glands contains MUC5B mucins, which, importantly, have also been found in salivary mucus [35]. This is attributed to the fact that the upper aerodigestive tract arises from the common development of the primitive foregut [35,43]. Guillem et al. confirmed this in healthy, control oesophageal mucosa but not in OSqCc [35]. This study is limited in that the presence of MUC5B mucin in healthy mucosa was not quantified in terms of the protein expression, and the pathway by which MUC5B gene expression could be downregulated in the development of OSqCc is unknown. This presents an avenue for further research in quantifying the presence of the MUC5B mucin in salivary mucus of healthy control subjects and patients with OSqCc, in the pursuit of a non-invasive risk stratification test to enable early diagnosis of OGC.
MUC1 expression in OSqCc upregulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13); this protein is highly expressed in patients with metastatic OSqCc and is indirectly regulated by the NF-kB pathway, which further supports the notion that MUC1 expression may be associated with advanced disease [40,41,42].
In summary, the literature highlights that MUC1 and MUC4 are the most frequently reported mucin genes associated with OSqCc. However, the included studies reported contrasting readouts, ranging from mucin gene expression to the presence of mucin at the protein level. There are no quantifiable threshold levels at which the MUC1 or MUC4 proteins are indicative of malignancy based on the findings of this systematic literature review. Although they may not be able to be used in isolation as a diagnostic biomarker, they may have a role in detecting more advanced disease and possible use in surveillance after potentially curative treatment.

4.2. Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma

The precursor lesion to OAc is Barrett’s oesophagus (BO); this is a metaplastic change from squamous to columnar epithelium as a result of gastro-oesophageal reflux and carries an incidence of 1% in the UK [44,45]. Currently, patients undergo surveillance by oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) due to the 1% annual risk of progression to OAc. However, this is an invasive and uncomfortable procedure, and there is insufficient evidence to suggest that this is cost-effective [46,47]. Although OGD is the gold-standard test for upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, 56% of OGDs performed each year in the UK are deemed ‘inappropriate’ [46,47,48]. This reinforces the importance of risk stratification to better select patients, who are susceptible to OAc or at risk of progression to malignancy.
A total of 20 studies investigated mucin gene expression in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAc), analysing 662 tumour samples obtained by surgical resection, endoscopic biopsy or endoscopic mucosal resection. MUC1 and MUC2 were the most frequently analysed mucin genes; both were investigated in 12/20 studies, followed by MUC5AC in 11/20 studies.
Piessen et al. identified that bile acid, which is a major component of gastro-oesophageal reflux and a tumour promoter, upregulates MUC4 expression [29,47]. Specifically, hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 1α and HNFα transcription factors potentiate the bile acid upregulation of MUC4 and, consequently, the expression of MUC4 increases in oesophageal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma [29]. It has been suggested to be a potential early diagnostic tumour marker as it is expressed in both high-grade dysplasia as well as OAc [29,35].
It may be hypothesised that neoplasia is represented by a variety of changes in the expression of several mucin genes, instead of changes in the expression of a specific gene. In support of this, Burjonrappa et al. aimed to identify the change in mucin gene expression in the progression from BO to dysplasia and then OAc to aid in early diagnosis [14]. Their study identified that the expression of the MUC1 gene increases in the progression from healthy oesophageal mucosa to adenocarcinoma, whereas the expression of secretory mucin genes such as MUC2 decreases in progression to OAc, resulting in loss of protection from gastric acid and subsequently reduced mucosal repair [14]. With regard to an increase in MUC1 gene expression, this is echoed by four other studies in this subgroup analysis [2,25,27,28]. Similar behaviour of MUC1 was identified by Song et al. in the cases of OSqCc; greater MUC1 expression is associated with more advanced disease [42]. Thus, further work can focus on identifying a profile of changes in MUC gene expression in the development of oesophageal neoplasia.
In a study of 52 specimens by Piessen et al., strong expression of MUC1 as well as MUC4 in Barrett’s-associated OAc was identified [47]. However, where an association has been made between increased MUC1 expression and advanced cancer with LN metastases in studies on OSqCc, the same does not hold true according to the current evidence of MUC1 and MUC4 in OAc [47]. Furthermore, this study concluded that MUC1 and MUC4 cannot be used as diagnostic biomarkers to facilitate early detection of OAc. This study is limited by its statistical power in that only 52 specimens were analysed, which emphasises the need for a larger analysis profiling mucin expression throughout the upper GI tract, in healthy controls, patients with BO and established OAc [49]. At the level of the mucin protein, a quantitative assay such as ELISA could be used, whereas quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) could be used for the detection and quantification of mucin mRNA. This may enable the diversity of different mucins in OG samples to be evaluated and compared between healthy, pre-malignant and cancerous samples. Differences in the mucins between these cohorts could be investigated further to identify potential biomarkers indicative of early disease.
A total of four studies looked specifically at the adenocarcinoma of the oesophago-gastric junction (GOJc), analysing MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 in 191 surgically resected specimens [31,33,50,51]. All four studies were explicit in that they distinguished GOJc from distal oesophageal and proximal gastric cancers. In particular, Tajima et al. defined the GOJ as the junction between the end of the tubular oesophagus and the proximal heads of the gastric folds, and tumours arising from within the 4 cm segment of this were classified as GOJc [33].
Tajima et al. reported the protein expression of MUC6 in 67.3% and of MUC2 in 59.6% of the 52 cases of GOJc, and, although healthy mucosa was sampled alongside tumour, their study did not elaborate on MUC2 and MUC6 protein expression in noncancerous tissue [33]. Furthermore, this study identified that MUC2 expression decreases in the cases of advanced junctional cancers, which suggests that the MUC2 gene, similar to MUC1 in OSqCc, could be used as an indicator of earlier disease [2,23,31,41,50].
Of the 29 junctional adenocarcinomas analysed by Flucke et al., relative frequency of immunoreactivity for MUC1 was the highest compared to MUC2 and MUC5AC, indicating that of all the GOJ tumours staining positively, the MUC1 gene was expressed the most prominently in tumour tissue [23]. The mucin expression profile of GOJc was mixed, containing high MUC2 gene expression consistent with oesophageal and high MUC6 gene expression consistent with gastric cancers [51,52]. This suggests that there is no specific mucin gene profile for GOJc, which may make early identification of these tumours more challenging. This creates a potential avenue for further research to improve the understanding of the mucin gene expression in GOJc by stratifying tumours according to the Siewert classification. This is an anatomical classification, divided into types I-III depending on the epicentre of the tumour: distal oesophagus (type I), in the GOJ (type II) or within the first 5 cm of the stomach, extending towards the GEJ and oesophagus (type III).
Gulmann et al.’s study demonstrated that increased expression of MUC1 in junctional adenocarcinoma was associated with higher Tumour, Node, Metastasis (TNM) staging, which was also demonstrated by Sun et al. in OSqCc [40,53]. Quantification of the MUC1 protein expression in GOJc and OSqCc could be used to improve the risk stratification of patients and also identify those at potentially higher risk of recurrence. This could allow for more careful selection of patients, who may benefit from radical surgery and perioperative treatment, compared to those for whom non-surgical treatment could be more appropriate.

4.3. Gastric Adenocarcinoma

A total of 101 of the included 124 studies investigated the mucin gene expression in gastric cancer (GC), substantially more than those in oesophageal cancer (34 studies).
As with OAc, MUC1 was the most frequently analysed mucin (42/101 studies); however, other mucins including MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 appeared to be closely linked to the development of GC based on the findings of this systematic review [28,50,51,52,53,54].
In particular, Babu et al. found that the expression patterns of mucin genes MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 change in line with the development of intestinal metaplasia in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa, during the progression to carcinoma [30]. The included studies on GC suggest that changes in the expression patterns can be triggered by various known aetiological factors including known carcinogens such as smoking, alcohol consumption and Helicobacter pylori infection, whereas the included studies on oesophageal and junctional cancer did not suggest any such influence [30].
These aetiologies may drive chronic inflammation, causing the impairment of the protective role of mucins in epithelial cells, thereby promoting tumourigenesis. However, Helicobacter pylori has also been implicated as an epigenetic aberration leading to the pathogenesis of GC by inducing extensive DNA methylation alterations in gastric epithelial cells [55,56]. In their study, Ge et al. reported that MUC1 is associated with the methylation of trefoil factor family 2 (TFF2), a secreted peptide that promotes epithelial repair, in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cells [55]. However, the mechanism through which this occurs is yet to be elucidated [57]. Furthermore, aberrant MUC1, following H. pylori infection regulates the methylation status of TFF2, thus contributing to the silencing of this peptide, leading towards GC development [57]. A further study by Shi et al. identified that the methylation of the promoter region in the MUC6 gene leads to the downregulation of MUC6 expression, which may promote the metastasis of GC [58]. This was corroborated by significantly lower levels of MUC6 expression in advanced and poorly differentiated gastric tumour specimens, than normal and pre-malignant tissue in their study (p < 0.01) [58].
As highlighted by Yamanoi and Nakayama, the expression of residues attached to mucin core proteins may provide further insight into biomarkers indicative of malignancy or greater risk of malignant transformation in OGC [59]. Their analysis of the O-glycans carrying terminal α1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (αGlcNAc) suggests that this is a potential tumour-suppressing molecule. Reduced αGlcNAc expression of MUC6, as determined by immunohistochemistry, occurs in chronic atrophic gastritis and pyloric gland adenoma, both of which are precursors to GAc. Additionally, reduced expression of αGlcNAc relative to MUC6 in Barrett’s oesophagus may be indicative of progression to OAc. This study indicates that mucin core proteins act as a scaffold upon which molecules which are the true drivers of tumourigenesis, may be anchored [59]. This warrants further investigation when attempting to identify the biomarkers of early malignant transformation in OGC.
From this subgroup analysis, there are discrepancies in the expression patterns of MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 in GC amongst the included studies. A number of studies commented on the involvement of these mucin genes in carcinogenesis, particularly that their expression increases consistently with the development of GC; however, other studies contradicted this. MUC2 expression decreases during metaplasia from normal gastric mucosa to intestinal-type, whereas MUC5AC is upregulated with more aggressive gastric tumours, and MUC6 is downregulated in gastric cancer [15,58,60,61,62]. Although the majority of studies (90/101) in this subgroup analysis used immunohistochemistry, there was significant variation in the antibodies for staining including human antibodies, NCL-HGM-45M1, as well as mouse-derived antibodies, NCL-MUC-1 and MCL-MUC-2, which may contribute to the heterogeneity in the results [15,50,60,61,62].
A number of studies have suggested that specific mucin gene expression patterns can be indicative of either intestinal or diffuse GC subtypes, and the expression patterns change over time [15,61,62,63,64]. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated variations in the mucin gene expression in the immediate vicinity of the tumour [15,53,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67]. For example, Lee et al. reported complete the absence of MUC2 in normal gastric mucosa in patients with GC, followed by the expression of MUC2 in 97.8% of the areas of intestinal metaplasia in the stomach, followed by 55.4% positive expression of MUC2 in early GC [15]. The mechanism by which this occurs is not described in these studies but given its varying level of expression in gastric tumourigenesis, may be epigenetic in nature.
Overall, only four of the included one hundred and twenty-four included studies specified whether the patients had undergone neoadjuvant therapy prior to sample collection. Therefore, it is unclear whether chemotherapy and radiotherapy influenced mucin gene expression and potentially affect the use of mucins in the diagnostic workup for OGC, as well as in the detection of advanced disease or its loco-regional recurrence. The previous literature has, however, established that neoadjuvant therapy modifies the single-cell transcriptional landscape of OGC, which may also be extended to include mucin expression [68,69]. Consequently, previous oncological treatment may represent a confounding variable that will need to be controlled for in further work on the role of mucins in OGC [69].
In addition to neoadjuvant therapy, diet is a major factor that influences mucin gene expression in the upper GI tract [70]. Digestive responses by the oesophagus and stomach to different foods modulate the contribution of mucin to endogenous protein components and their qualitative composition [70]. This may continue beyond the 6 h conventional fasting period patients are required to follow before upper GI endoscopy or surgery under general anaesthesia. As such, diet is an important variable which should be accounted for in further research on the mucin expression in OGC.
The majority of the included studies examined changes in the expression of mucin genes in OGC pathogenesis, as opposed to quantifying mucin protein in the samples. In terms of incorporating mucins into early diagnostic testing and risk stratification for OGC, quantifiable assays are needed to determine thresholds at which mucin proteins are indicative of malignancy. Future research should, therefore, take this into consideration.
From the included studies, the challenge with using mucin gene expression in isolation as diagnostic biomarkers in OGC arises from the fact that these expression profiles also change in benign pathology including chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers [71]. Therefore, further research must be carried out to determine potential threshold levels of mucin gene expression, which are more indicative of early OGC, and not benign diseases such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This will help with the risk stratification of patients for definitive investigations by way of endoscopy and biopsy to make a formal diagnosis of malignancy.

5. Conclusions

A large number of studies have been carried out investigating the mucin profile of oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC). From our review, we can conclude that mucin gene expression is altered in the pathogenesis of OGC. However, the significant heterogeneity between the results of the included studies makes drawing more precise conclusions about the relationship between mucin gene expression and OGC limited.
In particular, there is significant heterogeneity among the included studies. For example, there is inconsistency in how studies define a true gastro-oesophageal junction tumour. Secondly, certain studies in each subgroup analysis differ in terms of their findings, particularly in relation to whether certain mucin genes are upregulated or downregulated in carcinogenesis. Reasons for changes in gene expression may be epigenetic or mutational, and further research into the underlying mechanisms is needed. Furthermore, this raises the question as to whether particular mucin proteins can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for OGC. Although the majority of studies used similar techniques including immunohistochemistry and cytoplasmic staining, the different antibodies used in the staining process may account for some of the variation in the results yielded.
MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 were the most commonly analysed mucins across all three cancer types according to this literature review. These may form the basis of a larger cohort study, formally profiling mucin expression along the oesophagus and stomach at consistent anatomical locations in patients with and without treatment for early and advanced OGC and pre-malignant conditions including Barrett’s metaplasia, as well as healthy controls and those with a benign disease such as GORD. Such a study would be required to formally identify changes in mucin profile in oesophageal and gastric tumourigenesis that may have clinical applications.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/cancers15215252/s1. Table S1: Total Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scores for all included studies. References [72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,107,108,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,116,117,118,119,120,121,122,123,124,125,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135,136,137,138,139,140,141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152] are cited in the supplementary materials.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, N.M.P. and S.K.; Methodology, N.M.P. and G.G.; Formal Analysis, N.M.P. and G.G.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, N.M.P. and G.G.; Writing—Review and Editing, P.H.P., R.H.B., K.J.H., A.S. and S.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Acknowledgments

This systematic literature review represents independent research supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the Department of Health and Social Care or The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Cancers 15 05252 g001
Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram of included studies.
Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram of included studies.
Cancers 15 05252 g001
Cancers 15 05252 g002
Figure 2. Mucins associated with each type of cancer as described in the included studies (OSqCc—oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma; OAc—oesophageal adenocarcinoma; GOJc—gastro-oesophageal junction cancer; GAc—gastric adenocarcinoma) and doughnut chart of mucins analysed in all included studies.
Figure 2. Mucins associated with each type of cancer as described in the included studies (OSqCc—oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma; OAc—oesophageal adenocarcinoma; GOJc—gastro-oesophageal junction cancer; GAc—gastric adenocarcinoma) and doughnut chart of mucins analysed in all included studies.
Cancers 15 05252 g002
Cancers 15 05252 g003
Figure 3. Newcastle–Ottawa assessment of included cohort studies.
Figure 3. Newcastle–Ottawa assessment of included cohort studies.
Cancers 15 05252 g003
Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
Studies on the role of MUC genes in the diagnosis of OGC:
–
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAc);
–
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSqCc);
–
Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAc);
–
Gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GOJAc).
Studies not assessing MUC gene expression in OGC diagnosis.
Studies on secondary oesophageal or gastric cancers or metastases to the oesophagus or stomach from a non-OG primary cancer.
Studies assessing the role of mucins in treatment response or prognosis of OGC.
Paediatric cohorts (<16 years)
Systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses
Articles not published in English
Case reports
Case series of <10 patients
Letters to the editor
Conference abstracts
Table 2. Demographic details from included studies.
Table 2. Demographic details from included studies.
n
Total number of studies124
Type of study
Cohort11
Clinicopathologic and molecular analyses108
Population-based case–control study2
Clinicopathologic and gene study3
Females3801
Males7585
Median age
(Calculated from all median ages in included studies)		63.0 years
Sampling technique
(9 studies used >1 sampling method)
Endoscopic biopsy21
Endoscopic mucosal resection/submucosal dissection8
Surgical resection96
Nasogastric aspirates1
Not stated7
Type of cancerNumber of studies analysing cancer (n)
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma24
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma10
Gastric adenocarcinoma101
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MDPI and ACS Style

Patel, N.M.; Geropoulos, G.; Patel, P.H.; Bhogal, R.H.; Harrington, K.J.; Singanayagam, A.; Kumar, S. The Role of Mucin Expression in the Diagnosis of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review. Cancers 2023, 15, 5252. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15215252

AMA Style

Patel NM, Geropoulos G, Patel PH, Bhogal RH, Harrington KJ, Singanayagam A, Kumar S. The Role of Mucin Expression in the Diagnosis of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review. Cancers. 2023; 15(21):5252. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15215252

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patel, Nikhil Manish, Georgios Geropoulos, Pranav Harshad Patel, Ricky Harminder Bhogal, Kevin Joseph Harrington, Aran Singanayagam, and Sacheen Kumar. 2023. "The Role of Mucin Expression in the Diagnosis of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review" Cancers 15, no. 21: 5252. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15215252

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