MUC4 is also often overexpressed in epithelial cancers and our immunohistochemical studies have shown that aberrant expression of MUC4 is associated with invasive proliferation of tumours and a poor outcome for patients (Shibahara et al, 2004; Saitou et al, 2005; Tamada et al, 2006; Tsutsumida et al, 2007). Here, MUC4 is linked to neoplasm.