Serum mucin 3A as a potential biomarker for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate serum mucin 3A (MUC3A) as a candidate biomarker for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC). Patients and Methods: 35 Patients with EHCC, 30 patients with pancreatic cancer, 35 patients with gallbladder carcinoma and 78 patients with benign biliary disease were enrolled during January 2015 to January 2016. Serum MUC3A, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured in these patients. Pathology reports of patients with EHCC were collected. Results: (1) The serum levels of MUC3A (87.3 +/- 10.8 ng/ml) in patients with EHCC were higher than in patients with pancreatic cancer (63.2 +/- 7.7 ng/ml, P 88.8 ng/ml) had higher percentage of lymph node metastasis (66.7% vs. 25%, P = 0.014), surrounding tissue infiltration (80% vs. 30%, P = 0.003), and UICC staging IIa-III (86.7% vs. 35%, P = 0.002). Conclusion: The diagnostic efficiency for EHCC of MUC3A is obviously superior to CA19-9 and CEA, and a high level of serum MUC3A indicates a poor prognosis, therefore, MUC3A can be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for EHCC.