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The Oncology Department at the University of Oxford is excited to announce the forthcoming publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of the research paper “Goblet Cell Differentiation Subgroups in Colorectal Cancer.” This groundbreaking study sheds light on the role of goblet cell differentiation in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its impact on cancer progression and prognosis.

The research addresses the long-recognized poor prognosis of relatively undifferentiated cancers, suggesting that selection against differentiation and in favour of uncontrolled growth is a powerful driver of cancer progression. Goblet cells, which provide the mucous surface of the gut, are a crucial focus of this study. When present in colorectal cancers, these cancers are termed mucinous.

 

Key findings from the study include:

  • Nearly 80 CRC-derived cell lines are classified into five categories based on the levels of MUC2 (the main mucous product of goblet cells) and TFF3 (an associated gene product).
  • Identification of five distinct patterns of MUC2 and TFF3 expression, which can be easily identified in tumour specimens, allowing for a finer characterisation of CRCs concerning goblet cell differentiation.
  • It was discovered that approximately 30% of all CRCs express TFF3 but not MUC2, a previously unrecognised subgroup.
  • Highlighting the role of LGR5 in controlling differentiation rather than direct control of cell growth, challenging previous assumptions.

 

Read the full story on the Department of Oncology website.

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