(888) 552-6760 SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

粘液adenocarcinoma

This page was reviewed under ourmedical and editorial policyby

Maurie神枪手,MD, President, Medicine & Science.

This page was updated on August 18, 2023.

粘液adenocarcinoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in epithelial tissue, which covers all of the body’s external and internal surfaces. Mucinous means this cancer type is known for its mucus secretion.Adenocarcinomais a type of cancer that begins in glandular tissue, and mucinous adenocarcinoma may occur in a variety of areas in the body.

This guide to mucinous adenocarcinoma is designed to help patients and their families learn the basic facts about mucinous adenocarcinoma, including:

What is mucinous adenocarcinoma?

粘液adenocarcinomas, also known as MACs, are a type of cancerous tumor that forms in the epithelial tissue. MAC tumors secrete mucus at a volume of more than 50 percent of the tumor.

This tumor type is often found incolorectal cancer, but it may also be found in any of the glandular organs, including the stomach, breast, ovary and lungs.

粘液adenocarcinoma is not yet fully understood. Large-scale research studies are needed to help doctors learn more about this disease.

粘液adenocarcinoma cancers

It’s possible for several areas of the body to be affected by mucinous adenocarcinoma. Some common places it develops are listed below.

Colon and rectum:Colorectal mucinous adenocarcinomas are more commonly found in the beginning and middle parts of the colon and tend to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

Lungs:In rare cases,lung cancermay develop as mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Breast:粘液adenocarcinoma is an uncommon subtype ofbreast cancer. It’s further divided into two subtypes: pure type and mixed type.

Ovary:Ovarian cancermay develop as mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Gallbladder:In rare cases, mucinous adenocarcinoma may occur ingallbladder cancer. Because it’s difficult to diagnose, this cancer type may be challenging to treat.

Endometrial: Mucinous adenocarcinoma may occur inendometrial cancer, and it’s often diagnosed at an early stage.

Metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma

If mucinous adenocarcinoma spreads to distant parts of the body, it’s referred to asmetastasis. Metastatic cancer is sometimes referred to asstage 4 cancer. Cancer cells most commonly spread to the lungs, bones or liver, but every patient’s situation is different.

For patients who have metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma, their care team will discuss treatment options.

粘液adenocarcinoma vs. mucinous carcinoma

A few differences distinguish mucinous adenocarcinoma from mucinouscarcinoma. Mucinous carcinomas, also called colloid carcinomas, begin in the mucin, which is a protein that creates a barrier around all cells in the body.

On the other hand, mucinous adenocarcinoma begins in the mucous glands. Mucous glands produce mucous cells, which make up the mucous membrane that lines the body’s digestive tract. Adenocarcinoma is a subtype of carcinoma.

粘液腺癌的症状

粘液腺癌的症状可能会有所不同ased on where the cancer is located. Some patients may not have symptoms until their cancer has advanced.

Symptoms for each type of mucinous adenocarcinoma are detailed below.

Lung cancer:

  • Cough, which may produce mucus
  • Fever

Gallbladder:

  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Pain on the right side of the body

Endometrial cancer:

  • Abnormal bleeding

粘液adenocarcinoma risk factors

The risk factors for mucinous carcinoma may vary based on the cancer’s location. Risk factors are listed below.

Colorectal cancer:

  • Gender (females have a higher risk)
  • Age (younger people are at higher risk)

Breast cancer:

  • Prior history of menopause
  • Diet and hormones

Gallbladder cancer:

  • Gallstone disease
  • Choledochal cyst
  • Calcified gallbladder
  • 种族

粘液adenocarcinoma treatment

The treatment options for mucinous adenocarcinoma vary based on several factors, including thecancer’s stage, location and grade, as well as the patient’s overall health. In addition to treating the cancer, treatments may be needed to remove excess mucus.

Treatment for mucinous adenocarcinoma may include the options below.

Surgery:For localized cancer, surgery may be used to remove the tumor.

Radiation therapy:Radiation therapy uses high-intensity, targeted X-rays to destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapy:Chemotherapy uses medication to destroy cancer cells. It may be given as a standalone treatment or before surgery to help shrink the tumor. In some cases, a type of chemotherapy called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may be used. This treatment uses heated chemotherapy to remove residual cancer cells.

Immunotherapy:During immunotherapy, medication helps the body’s immune system identify and destroy cancer cells.

Targeted therapy:Targeted therapy is similar to chemotherapy, but it avoids destroying healthy cells to help reduce treatment side effects.

粘液adenocarcinoma survival rate

Relatively few studies have been performed on mucinous adenocarcinoma survival, so researchers still have more to learn about the disease. One 2018 study inScientific Reportsidentified the five-year survival rates as detailed below.

Localized MACs:When the cancer hadn’t spread outside the original affected organ, the five-year survival rate was 92.9 percent.

Regional MACs:When the cancer had spread beyond the original affected organ to nearby structures or tissue, the five-year survival rate was 64.5 percent.

Distant MACs:When the cancer had spread beyond the original affected organ to distant structures or tissue, the five-year survival rate was 21 percent.

However, survival rates are continuously improving as treatment options improve, and each patient’s circumstances are unique.

Expert cancer care

is one call away.
appointments in as little as 24 hrs.

Show references

Luo C (2019). Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma: clinical pathology and treatment options.Cancer Commun (Lond).2019;39:13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6440160/

Liu Y (2017). Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung: A case report and review of the literature.Oncol Lett.4(3):3701–3704. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28927134/

Limaiem F (2023).Mucinous Breast Carcinoma.StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538334/

Massad L (2016). Clinical outcomes among women with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary.Gynecol Obstet Invest.2016;81(5):411–415. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4874917/

Gupta R (2021). Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of Gallbladder Presenting As Acute Calculous Cholecystitis.Cureus.13(4):e14548. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8130641/

Mogor O (2019). Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with metastasis to the clitoral glans after pelvic exenteration for radiation resistant vaginal cuff recurrence.Gynecol Oncol Rep.27:46–49. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6321887/

National Cancer Institute (2020, November 10).Metastatic Cancer: When Cancer Spreads.https://www.cancer.gov/types/metastatic-cancer

Babaier A (2020). Mucinous Cancer of the Ovary: Overview and Current Status.Diagnostics (Basel).10(1):52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7168201/

Xie G (2018). Epidemiology and survival outcomes of mucinous adenocarcinomas: A SEER population-based study.Sci Rep.8:6117. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-24540-7