title: Plectin-1 is a biomarker of malignant pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are now identified with increasing frequency. The detection of carcinoma in IPMN is difficult and suffers from high false-positive and false-negative rates, often resulting in inappropriate treatment decisions. Improved detection of malignancy using novel biomarkers may therefore improve diagnostic accuracy. One such promising novel biomarker is Plectin-1 (Plec-1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using immunohistochemistry, Plec-1 expression was assayed in benign (low and moderate dysplasia, n = 6) as well as malignant IPMN (high-grade dysplasia and invasive carcinoma, n = 31) and lymph node metastases from carcinoma arising in IPMN (n = 12). Furthermore, cyst fluids from benign (n = 3) and malignant IPMN (n = 4) were evaluated for Plec-1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twenty-six of 31 malignant IPMN and all 12 lymph node metastases were Plec-1 positive. In contrast, only one of six benign IPMN expressed Plec-1. The specificity of Plec-1 in distinguishing malignant IPMN from benign IPMN was 83% and its sensitivity 84%. Furthermore, all (four out of four) cyst fluids from malignant IPMN, but none of the three benign IPMN, were Plec-1 positive. These data support Plec-1 as an excellent biomarker for the early detection of carcinoma arising in IPMN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114-2622, USA.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bausch
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mino-Kenudson
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-Del Castillo
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Warshaw
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Sarah P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Thayer
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051190:Plectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: C495332:PLEC protein, human; D051190:Plectin