AUTHOR=Gao Xiao-Peng , Dong Jie-Jie , Xie Tian , Guan Xiaoqing 

TITLE=Integrative Analysis of MUC4 to Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Pan-Cancer: Friend or Foe?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.695544

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.695544

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>MUC4</italic>, a transmembrane mucin, plays important roles in epithelial renewal and differentiation. Recent studies suggest that <italic>MUC4</italic> has been implicated in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and is expressed in various normal and cancer tissues. The underlying features of <italic>MUC4</italic> across various cancer types may allow us to ensure appropriate treatment and patient monitoring. However, the contributions of <italic>MUC4</italic> to pan-cancer have not been well characterized. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and prognostic value of <italic>MUC4</italic> across multiple databases. We further explored genomic and epigenetic alterations of <italic>MUC4</italic>, its association with proliferation and metastasis, and the correlation with immune infiltration in different cancers. Our results characterized the distinct expression profile and prognostic values of <italic>MUC4</italic> in pan-cancer. Through examining its association with genomic alteration, tumor proliferation, and metastasis, as well as tumor infiltration, we revealed multiple function effects of <italic>MUC4</italic>. <italic>MUC4</italic> may influence prognosis, proliferation, metastasis, and immune response in opposite directions. In conclusion, our findings suggested the necessity to more carefully evaluate <italic>MUC4</italic> as a biomarker and therapeutic target and develop the new antibodies for cancer detection and intervention.</p>