Mucin as a therapeutic target in pseudomyxoma peritonei

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is characterized by intraperitoneal dissemination of mucinous ascites. This malignancy frequently recurs despite aggressive locoregional therapies, demonstrates chemo-insensitivity and lacks targeted therapies. This review addresses some intriguing questions in PMP; what role does mucin play in this malignancy?; what genetic alterations and dysregulated signaling pathways lead to a putative goblet cell-lineage differentiation or mucin overexpression?; are targeted therapies against known transcriptional pathways for mucin production a novel therapeutic strategy in this malignancy? J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:911917. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.