Expression and Serum Levels of Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) as a Biomarker for Cholangiocarcinoma: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim

The potential of biomarkers in detecting early cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is facilitated by examining CCA-associated proteins from primary studies. One such protein is mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) but inconsistency of reported associations between its expression/serum levels and CCA prompts a meta-analysis to obtain more precise estimates.

Methods

A literature search yielded 17 included articles where multiple data in some raised the number of studies to 22. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals from negative and positive readings of MUC5AC levels. Data were subgrouped by ethnicity, detection method, sample source, and cancer type.

Results

Outcome in the overall analysis was non-significant but those in the subgroups were. Thus, significant associations (P < 0.001) indicating high MUC5AC levels were found in three subgroups: (i) Thai (OR 8.32) and (ii) serum (OR 4.52). Heterogeneity of these two outcomes (I ² = 90–93%) was erased with outlier treatment (I ² = 0%) which also modulated the pooled effects (OR 2.48–2.59). (iii) Immunoblot (OR 2.61) had low initial heterogeneity (I ² = 2%). Robustness and significant tests for interaction (P _interaction = 0.01–0.02) improved MUC5AC associations with CCA in the Thai population.

Conclusions

Our pooled effect findings target the biomarker potential of MUC5AC to the Thai population.

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