Muc16, also known as carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), is a membrane-bound mucin expressed on normal body epithelium. It contains abundant glycosylation sites and participates in various molecular pathways [3,5]. Muc16 can interact with ligands like galectin-1/3, mesothelin, Siglec-9, and is involved in multiple signaling pathways such as mesenchymal protein, PI3K/AKT, JAK2/STAT3, ERK/FBW7/c-Myc, playing important roles in tumorigenesis, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor immunity [1,2].

Abnormal expression of Muc16 promotes tumor progression. For example, in triple-negative breast cancer, Muc16 promotes lung metastasis by modulating RNA-binding protein ELAVL1/HUR and the Muc16/HuR/cMyc axis [6]. In ovarian cancer, Muc16 acts on neutrophils through Siglec-9, leading to an inflammatory and immunosuppressive phenotype [4]. Also, Muc16 helps tumor immune escape by inhibiting T cells and NK cells [1].

In conclusion, Muc16 is a key molecule in normal and disease states, especially in tumors. Its abnormal expression significantly impacts tumor-related biological processes like progression and immune escape. Understanding Muc16 through functional studies provides insights into tumorigenesis mechanisms, which may help develop new strategies for cancer treatment [1,2,4,6].