POFUT1 and PLAGL2 are characteristic markers of mucinous colorectal cancer associated with MUC2 expression.

Colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is one of the most lethal histological types of colorectal cancer, and its mechanism of development is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to clarify the molecular characteristics of MAC via in silico analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The expression of genes on chromosome 20q (Chr20q) was negatively associated with the expression of MUC2, which is a key molecule that can be used to distinguish between MAC and nonmucinous adenocarcinoma (NMAC). This was consistent with a significant difference in copy number alteration of Chr20q between the two histological types. We further identified 475 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between MAC and NMAC, and some of the Chr20q genes among the DEGs are considered to be pivotal genes used to define MAC. Both in vitro and in vivo analysis showed that simultaneous knockdown of POFUT1 and PLAGL2, both of which are located on Chr20q, promoted MUC2 expression. Moreover, these genes were highly expressed in NMAC but not in MAC according to the results of immunohistological studies using human samples. In conclusion, POFUT1 and PLAGL2 are considered to be important for defining MAC, and these genes are associated with MUC2 expression.