MUC1: Structure, Function, and Clinic Application in Epithelial Cancers

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 12; p. 6567
• Main Authors: Chen, Wenqing, Zhang, Zhu, Zhang, Shiqing, Zhu, Peili, Ko, Joshua Ka-Shun, Yung, Ken Kin-Lam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 18-06-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Amino acids; Angiogenesis; Apoptosis; Barriers; Biomolecules; Cancer; Drug resistance; epithelial cancer; Glycosylation; Growth factors; immunotherapy; Inflammation; Intracellular signalling; Kinases; Metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; MUC1; MUC1 cell barrier; Mucin; Pancreatic cancer; Peptides; Proteins; Review; Signal transduction; Structure-function relationships; therapeutic biomarkers; tumor oncogene; Tumors
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126567

The transmembrane glycoprotein mucin 1 (MUC1) is a mucin family member that has different functions in normal and cancer cells. Owing to its structural and biochemical properties, MUC1 can act as a lubricant, moisturizer, and physical barrier in normal cells. However, in cancer cells, MUC1 often undergoes aberrant glycosylation and overexpression. It is involved in cancer invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis by virtue of its participation in intracellular signaling processes and the regulation of related biomolecules. This review introduces the biological structure and different roles of MUC1 in normal and cancer cells and the regulatory mechanisms governing these roles. It also evaluates current research progress and the clinical applications of MUC1 in cancer therapy based on its characteristics.