Open Access

Multiple roles and mechanisms of MUC6 in cancer (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Xin Luo
    • Xiao Fu
    • Ying Xiong
    • Ping Xiao
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  • Published online on: September 5, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2025.5629
  • Article Number: 188
  • Copyright: © Luo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Mucin 6 (MUC6), primarily expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium, is a member of the mucin family characterized by a protein backbone with extensive glycosylation, playing a crucial role in preserving epithelial barrier integrity. Accumulating evidence indicates that MUC6 glycosylation contributes significantly to cancer development, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis‑particularly in GI malignancies such as gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. In the present review, current findings on the multifaceted roles of MUC6 across various cancers were comprehensively summarize. For instance, loss of MUC6 expression is frequently associated with gastric cancer risk, while its upregulation may serve as a valuable biomarker in prostate cancer biopsy, aiding in early detection. Additionally, the identification of MUC6‑Tn glycoforms offers promising avenues for novel therapeutic strategies. The distinctive tandem repeat polymorphisms within the MUC6 gene further suggest its potential utility in assessing cancer susceptibility based on allele length variation. These insights underscore the relevance of MUC6 in both mechanistic research and clinical oncology. Although preliminary data are encouraging, large‑scale, multicenter studies are necessary to fully validate the clinical application of MUC6 as a biomarker for cancer staging and prognosis. Finally, the present review outlines future directions for exploring MUC6 in the context of cancer therapy development.
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November-2025
Volume 56 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Luo X, Fu X, Xiong Y and Xiao P: Multiple roles and mechanisms of MUC6 in cancer (Review). Int J Mol Med 56: 188, 2025.
APA
Luo, X., Fu, X., Xiong, Y., & Xiao, P. (2025). Multiple roles and mechanisms of MUC6 in cancer (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 56, 188. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2025.5629
MLA
Luo, X., Fu, X., Xiong, Y., Xiao, P."Multiple roles and mechanisms of MUC6 in cancer (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 56.5 (2025): 188.
Chicago
Luo, X., Fu, X., Xiong, Y., Xiao, P."Multiple roles and mechanisms of MUC6 in cancer (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 56, no. 5 (2025): 188. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2025.5629