Increased expression of alpha-1-antitrypsin, glutathione S-transferase pi and vascular endothelial growth factor in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to investigate abnormalities in gene expression in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas using cDNA arrays.


METHODS
Gene expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was compared with normal pancreatic tissue controls. Specimens from 5 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were taken fresh at operation and analyzed using commercially prepared cDNA arrays evaluating approximately 2,000 genes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to confirm protein expression of selected genes.


RESULTS
Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) and glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP) were significantly up-regulated in all 5 tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was up-regulated in 4 of the 5 patients. Immunohistochemical staining verified the overexpression of each of these genes.


CONCLUSIONS
A1AT, GSTP, and VEGF are overexpressed in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens taken fresh at operation. To our knowledge, this is the first study of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma demonstrating the up-regulation of these genes using gene expression arrays.
Trachte
Aaron L
AL
Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
Suthers
Sara E
SE
Lerner
Megan R
MR
Hanas
Jay S
JS
Jupe
Eldon R
ER
Sienko
Anna E
AE
Adesina
Adekunle M
AM
Lightfoot
Stan A
SA
Brackett
Daniel J
DJ
Postier
Russell G
RG
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics*
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase