Finally, and in accordance with our in vitro data, we found that MUC4 expression was conversely correlated to that of hCNT1 in tissues from patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Downregulation of CFTR in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its inverse association with the tumour-linked mucin, MUC4, indicate novel function(s) of CFTR in pancreatic tumour biology and suggest the implication of new signalling pathway(s) in MUC4 regulation.
Aberrant expression of membrane mucins MUC3 and MUC4 and of a mucin-associated carbohydrate tumor antigen Sialyl Le(x) in PanINs and adenocarcinoma further supports the progression model for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Our results revealed that of all of the mucins examined, only MUC4 displayed a differential expression that was specific for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.