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What role do mucins have in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma? A systematic review

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Abstract

Mucins are the dominant component in the protective mucus layer on mucosal surfaces including the larynx. Hence, they are part of the first line of defence against external stimuli including effect of smoking in the larynx. We asked whether existing published evidence supported the hypothesis that alteration in mucins expression/production is related to the laryngeal neoplastic process. The objective of this study is to review published evidence for mucins having an important role in normal laryngeal physiology and the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We aimed to review all available literature on mucins in the larynx in order to develop hypotheses to be tested by future research. Thereby, new potential means of prevention and treatment of laryngeal cancer may be developed. A systematic search of all published literature was conducted. Systematic searches were done in the following databases: AMED, BNI, EMBASE, HMIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and HEALTH BUSINESS ELITE from their respective inception up to 11 February 2011. The following keywords were used in combination: mucin, larynx and squamous cell carcinoma. Altogether, 53 studies were identified; 43 studies were excluded following screening of the titles and abstracts. Full text manuscripts for ten studies were obtained for detailed evaluation and five studies were included in this review. No single study fulfilled all relevant criteria. Based on the included studies, we now know that MUC1 is definitely expressed in SCC larynx. However, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that MUC1 and MUC2 are aberrantly expressed in SCC larynx as compared to normal larynx. Further studies using the best available detection technique to detect MUC1, MUC2 and other possible relevant mucins i.e., MUC4 on adequate numbers of normal and SCC specimens are needed to confirm the findings of this review.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Augustus & Newman Research Fellowship, the Royal College of Surgeons of England. We also wish to express our gratitude to Mr Edgardo Abelardo for his expert help in creating Fig. 2.

Conflict of interest

All three authors do not have any financial relationship with the organisation that funded the research (Royal College of Surgeons of England).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Wotton Lodge, Gloucester, GL1 3NN, UK

    Fabian Sipaul

  2. UCL Ear Institute, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, University College London, London, WC2X 8EE, UK

    Martin Birchall

  3. Mucin Research Group, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, Research and Teaching Floor, Level 7, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK

    Fabian Sipaul & Anthony Corfield

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  1. Fabian Sipaul
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Correspondence to Fabian Sipaul.

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Sipaul, F., Birchall, M. & Corfield, A. What role do mucins have in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma? A systematic review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 268, 1109–1117 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-011-1617-8

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