MUC1 expression in plasmacytoma
Introduction
Plasmacytomas (Pm) are relatively uncommon plasma cell (PC) neoplasias that may arise in a variety of soft tissues and bone. Some of them show progression to multiple myeloma (MM), while others tend to be localized, but there are no clear indicators predicting the progression to the MM [1], [2].
Mucins are glycoproteins with high molecular weight, produced by ductal epithelial cells of a variety of tissues and also by tumors deriving from these tissues [3]. To date, at least eight mucin genes encoding the protein backbone of these glycoproteins have been identified. Of these mucins, MUC1 codes for the membrane-bound mucin [4], [5], [6], [7]. MUC1 mucin is secreted by normal and malignant epithelial cells and is thought to function through cell–cell interactions and transmembrane signal transduction events [8]. MUC1 disturbs cell–cell interaction, inhibits aggregation in vitro, and decreases the activity of natural killer cells and lymphokine activated killer cells in cancer tissues. Cancer cells expressing high levels of MUC1 may be able to detach from the primary tumor and survive in circulation or in distant organs by escaping from immune surveillance [9], [10], [11]. MUC1 is frequently overexpressed in various human tumors: including the carcinoma of the breast, colon, rectum, stomach, kidney, pancreas, bile duct and ovary, and generally a poor prognostic indicator in these tumors [5], [6], [9], [10], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]. By analogy with these malignant tumors MUC1 expression in Pm was evaluated in this study to determine whether it is a progression marker in Pm.
Section snippets
Materials and methods
The material used in this study consisted of 35 samples taken from 31 cases. Age range was between 19 and 71; 14 of them were female and 17 were male. In eight cases, Pm was originated from soft tissues and rest of them were Pm of the bone origin. In 12 cases Pm accompanied the MM. Complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total protein/albumin, protein and immune electrophoresis and renal function tests, skeletal surveys were done in all cases. BM aspiration and biopsy samples and
Results
Thirty five Pm samples taken from 31 cases were evaluated in this study for MUC1 expression. Totally, ten samples belonging to nine cases showed MUC1 expression (9/31 = 29%). There was (+) MUC1 staining in three and (+ +) staining in six cases. Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b show the (+) and (+ +) MUC1 expression. Clinical presentation, BM involvement status, histopathologic grade and MUC1 expression were summarized in Table 1. Histopathologically Pm was mature in 18 cases and immature in 13 cases. The
Discussion
Pms are relatively uncommon PC neoplasias and are mainly divided into two groups: extramedullary Pm (EMP) and solitary bone Pm (SBP). Biologically they have different clinical outcome. EMPs tend to be localized and it has been suggested that biological behavior looks like marginal zone lymphoma [1]. SBPs involve most commonly to the axial skeleton and at least 50% show progression to the MM. Both EMPs and SBPs may progress to MM, and there are no clear prognostic indicators, accepted for all
Acknowledgements
This study has been supported by Çukurova University Research Fund. We thank Prof Dr Refik Burgut due to his statistical support.
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