Integrative analysis of the cancer genome atlas and cancer cell lines encyclopedia large-scale genomic databases: MUC4/MUC16/MUC20 signature is associated with poor survival in human carcinomas.
As one of its splice variants, MUC4/Y with coding sequence is most similar to that of the full-length MUC4 (FL-MUC4), together with alternative splicing of the MUC4 transcript has been observed in pancreatic carcinomas but not in normal pancreas.
MUC4 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that functions in cell growth signaling pathways; aberrant MUC4 expression has been reported in various carcinomas.
MUC4 splice variants are overexpressed in several tumours; in particular, they are highly expressed in pancreatic carcinomas but not in normal pancreas.
MUC4 is the earlier mucin gene expressed in the foregut, before epithelial differentiation and is expressed independently of mucus secretion both in normal adult airways and carcinomas.
The human mucin gene MUC4 encodes a large transmembrane mucin that is thought to play important roles in tumor cell biology and that is overexpressed in human pancreatic carcinomas.