Mucin-6 (MUC6) is a secretory mucin found at high levels in the normal stomach, where it has a protective function [, ]. It is aberrantly expressed in gastric cancer and other types of carcinomas [, , , ]. MUC6, like other glycosylated mucins, could represent a target for the development of efficient immunotherapies [].The mucin (MUC) family members are high molecular weight proteins that are components of mucus and are synthesised and secreted by specialised cells of the epithelium (goblet cells, cells of mucous glands) or non mucin-secreting cells []. There are two main mucin subfamilies: secreted mucins or gel-forming mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC6) and membrane-bound mucins (MUC1, MUC3, MUC4, MUC12, MUC17) []. They were thought to have the unique function of protecting and lubricating the epithelial surfaces. However, they also possess other important functions, such as growth,direct implication in the fetal development, the epithelial renewal and differentiation, the epithelial integrity, carcinogenesis, and metastasis [].
