Title:MUC Glycoproteins: Potential Biomarkers and Molecular Targets for Cancer Therapy
Volume: 21
Issue: 2
Author(s): Chameli Ratan, Dalia Cicily K. D, Bhagyalakshmi Nair and Lekshmi. R. Nath*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P. O., Kochi, Kerala 682041,India
Keywords:
Cancer, MUC proteins, mucins, biomarker, chemotherapy, diagnosis, prognosis.
Abstract: MUC proteins have great significance as prognostic and diagnostic markers as well as a
potential target for therapeutic interventions in most cancers of glandular epithelial origin. These
are high molecular weight glycosylated proteins located in the epithelial lining of several tissues
and ducts. Mucins belong to a heterogeneous group of large O-glycoproteins that can be either secreted
or membrane-bound. Glycosylation, a post-translational modification affects the biophysical,
functional and biochemical properties and provides structural complexity for these proteins.
Aberrant expression and glycosylation of mucins contribute to tumour survival and proliferation in
many cancers, which in turn activates numerous signalling pathways such as NF-kB, ERα, HIF,
MAPK, p53, c-Src, Wnt and JAK-STAT, etc. This subsequently induces cancer cell growth, proliferation
and metastasis. The present review mainly demonstrates the functional aspects of MUC glycoproteins
along with its unique signalling mechanism and role of aberrant glycosylation in cancer
progression and therapeutics. The importance of MUC proteins and its subtypes in a wide spectrum
of cancers including but not limited to breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial and cervical
cancer, lung cancer, primary liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer has
been exemplified with significance in targeting the same. Several patents associated with the MUC
proteins in the field of cancer therapy are also emphasized in the current review.
