Differential Expression of MUC1 and Carbohydrate Antigens in Primary and Secondary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), tumor markers may be helpful to evaluate prognosis accurately as well as to improve therapy selection. Detection of human MUC1 has been widely employed for the evaluation of carcinoma patients. This article aims to study MUC1, Tn, sTn, and Lewis antigenic expression in primary HNSCC, lymph node metastasis, and local recurrences.

Methods: We used immunohistochemistry, tissue homogenization and differential centrifugation, isopycnic density gradient centrifugation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and Western blot.

Results: In primary tumors, MUC1 was detected in 80.0% of the samples; sLewis x in 23.2%, Lewis x in 45.6%, and Lewis y in 40.8%. Tn and sTn were found in 4.0% and 6.4% of samples, respectively. In metastatic lymph nodes, MUC1 showed a similar positive reaction as in primary tumors. Lewis y was detected in 20% lymph nodes whereas Lewis x, sLewis x, Tn, and sTn did not show differences. Some recurrences expressed MUC1 and only a few Lewis antigens, whereas Tn and sTn were not detected.

Conclusion: In primary HNSCC and metastatic nodes, a high expression of MUC1 and Lewis antigens was detected that diminished in local recurrences. We also found that differentiated tumors mainly expressed a linear pattern of MUC1CT and Lewis x.