title: Helicobacter species ribosomal DNA in the pancreas, stomach and duodenum of pancreatic cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether gastric and enteric Helicobacter species are associated with pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer (n = 40), neuroendocrine cancer (n = 14), multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (n = 8), and chronic pancreatitis (n = 5) were studied. Other benign pancreatic diseases (n = 10) and specimens of normal pancreas (n = 7) were included as controls. Pancreatic tissue specimens were analyzed by Helicobacter-specific PCR-assay and products were characterized by denaturing gradient electrophoresis and DNA-sequencing. From a subset of the pancreatic cancer patients, gastric and/or duodenal tissue as well as gallbladder and ductus choledochus tissue were analyzed. Gallbladder and choledochus samples were included as controls. Stomach and duodenum samples were investigated to analyze whether a gastric helicobacter might disseminate to the pancreas in pancreatic cancer patients. Pancreatic specimens were analyzed by Bacteroides-specific PCR for detecting the translocation of indigenous gut microbes to the diseased pancreas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Helicobacter DNA was detected in pancreas (tumor and/or surrounding tissue) of 75% of patients with exocrine cancer, 57% of patients with neuroendocrine cancer, 38% of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia, and 60% of patients with chronic pancreatitis. All samples from other benign pancreatic diseases and normal pancreas were negative. Thirty-three percent of the patients were helicobacter-positive in gastroduodenal specimens. Surprisingly, H. bilis was identified in 60% of the positive gastroduodenal samples. All gallbladder and ductus choledochus specimens were negative for helicobacter. Bacteroides PCR-assay was negative for all pancreatic samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helicobacter DNA commonly detected in pancreatic cancer suggests a possible role of the emerging pathogens in the development of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Solvegatan 23, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden. hans-olof.nilsson@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Hans-Olof
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Unne
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stenram
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ihse
authors.forename: Torkel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wadstrom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004386:Duodenum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018761:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013270:Stomach / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal