In the 108 cases, the positive expression rates (more than 5% of carcinoma cells stained) of each mucin antigen were MUC1, 47.2% (51/108); MUC2, 71.3% (77/108); MUC3, 18.5% (20/108); MUC4, 93.5% (101/108); MUC5AC, 50.0% (54/108); MUC6, 4.6% (5/108) MUC16, 16.7% (18/108) and MUC17, 86.1% (93/108). Here, MUC5AC is linked to carcinoma.