title: GPC-1 may serve as a predictor of perineural invasion and a prognosticator of survival in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), glypican-1 (GPC-1), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and their association with clinicopathologic characteristics as well as prognostic significance in pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical assessment of GDNF, GPC-1, and MMP-9 was performed in 62 cases of surgically resected pancreatic cancer. Perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer was observed by marking nerve fiber with S-100, while 16 normal pancreatic tissues were used as normal control. Correlations of GDNF, GPC-1 and MMP-9 expressions with clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed. A survival analysis was performed to find the prognostic significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expressions of GDNF, GPC-1 and MMP-9 in pancreatic cancer tissue were significantly higher than of those in normal pancreatic tissues (41/62 vs. 5/16 for GDNF, 35/62 vs. 2/16 for GPC-1, and 37/62 vs. 3/16 for MMP-9; p<0.01, respectively). The overexpression of GDNF, GPC-1, and MMP-9 in pancreatic cancer tissue was significantly related to the perineural invasion (p<0.05). Although the overexpression of these genes was related to poor survival, GPC-1 had an independent prognostic effect on overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPC-1 is significantly related to the perineural invasion of pancreatic cancer, holding some prognostic significance in patients with pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Xian-qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: De-yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Shi-yue
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Guo-huang
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D053673:Glypicans / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D053673:Glypicans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9