title: Midkine mRNA is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Midkine (MK) has been reported to be a possible molecular marker for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the feasibility of quantitative analysis of MK mRNA by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) as a promising tool for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that pancreatic cancer tissues expressed significantly higher levels of MK mRNA than intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and non-neoplastic pancreatic tissues (P < 0.05); in contrast, we did not find any differences in MK mRNA expression between IPMN and non-neoplastic pancreatic tissues. Additionally, we observed that poorly differentiated carcinoma samples expressed higher levels of MK mRNA than well-differentiated carcinoma samples, although a significant difference was not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggests that quantitative analysis of MK mRNA provides an objective and sensitive evaluation and may be a promising modality for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the prediction of its prognosis.
authors: Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
authors: Seiji
authors: S
authors: Ohhashi
authors: Kenoki
authors: K
authors: Ohuchida
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Mizumoto
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Egami
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Yu
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Cui
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Toma
authors: Shunichi
authors: S
authors: Takahata
authors: Toshinaga
authors: T
authors: Nabae
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000078792:Midkine; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000078792:Midkine