title: Elevated L1CAM expression in precursor lesions and primary and metastastic tissues of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: The promigratory molecule L1CAM is overexpressed in various tumors, often representing an unfavorable prognostic marker. Recently, we identified L1CAM expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells accounting for chemoresistance and increased cell migration. Thus, the present study aims at further elucidating the role of L1CAM in a larger cohort of PDAC specimens including precursor lesions and metastasis. L1CAM expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in tissues of 123 patients including tissues of 110 primary PDACs, 15 lymph node metastases and 14 liver metastases. The immunohistochemical analyses revealed L1CAM expression in 92.7% of primary PDACs, 80% of lymph node metastases and 100% of liver metastases. Furthermore, we have investigated PDAC precursors, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions, revealing a significant increase of L1CAM expression with the PanIN grade (6.4 and 6.8% in PanIN 1A and B, 35% in PanIN 2 and 20% in PanIN 3). The elevated expression of L1CAM already found in PanINs points to a role of L1CAM quite early in tumorigenesis of PDAC. Furthermore, its broad expression in primary tumors as well as in metastases of PDAC patients provide a rationale to further explore the value of L1CAM as a therapeutic target in the treatment of this highly malignant tumor.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wandschneider
authors.forename: Bence
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sipos
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moldenhauer
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schniewind
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Welsch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schirrmacher
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klöppel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altevogt
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sebens Müerköster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1