Silencing of KRT7 and MUC1 via targeted siRNAs suppressed sarcoma cell migration in vitro, and a significant correlation (two-sided) was observed between both KRT7 and MUC1 expression in metastases and overall patient survival.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined measurement of serum CEA, TPA, and CA 15-3, using an individual reference limit (IRL), for predicting distant metastases in asymptomatic women following a diagnosis of primary breast cancer.
By analyzing MUC1 mRNA levels and gene copy number (GCN) using the OncomineTM database, elevations in MUC1 mRNA in 82 metastases versus 280 primary PCs and in MUC1 GCN in 37 metastases over 181 primary tumors were demonstrated.
High MUC1 expression in primary tumors was positively correlated with tumor volume (mean 24.4 cm(3) vs 14.5 cm(3); P=0.005) and T-stage (P=0.009); in lymph node metastases, high expression corresponded with a greater total size of metastases (mean 35.8 mm vs 12.7 mm; P<0.001) and a higher ratio of positive to examined lymph nodes (mean 0.22 vs 0.12; P=0.014).
To determine whether 1 of 2 vaccines based on dendritic cells (DCs) and poxvectors encoding CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) and MUC1 (PANVAC) would lengthen survival in patients with resected metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC).
Post-intrasplenic injection cell tracking showed that: (a) mesenchymal (SPRR2A+) cells were not trapped in the liver, but were rapidly cleared through mesenteric lymph nodes and did not form metastases; whereas (b) epithelial (SPRR2A-) controls were primarily entrapped within MUC-1-associated liver "micro-infarcts" that later evolved into metastatic colonies.
Reduction by glycodelin transfection of carcinoma cell proliferation and expression of MUC1 and Bcl-XL is significant because these genes are often overexpressed in human cancers--MUC1 is linked to invasive growth and metastases, and both confer resistance to chemotherapy.
The MUC1 and EGP40 nested PCR were positive in 83.3% (10/12) and in 100% (33/33) respectively of BM from patiens with breast cancer who had no evidence of distant metastases.
Furthermore, the malignant transformation of oral epithelium, tumor invasion, and tumor metastasis were associated with higher MUC1 mucin expression in the cytoplasm (P < 0.01).
Additionally, 12 of the cell lines were established as xenografts in immunocompromised (SCID) mice, and MUC1 expression in both the primary tumors as well as metastases was assessed immunohistochemically.
Immunization with the dendritic cell fusions that express MUC1 resulted in the rejection of established metastases and no apparent autoimmunity against normal tissues.