Prognostic impact of hyaluronan and its regulators in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Although pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is characterized by an abundant stroma enriched with hyaluronan (HA), the prognostic impact of HA and its regulators remains unknown.


METHODS
Using immunohistochemistry, expression patterns of HA and its regulators, including a synthesizing enzyme (HAS2), and a degrading enzyme (HYAL1) were investigated in patients who received surgical resection. The prognostic significance of these markers and other clinicopathological variables was determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. The HA levels were determined quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
We found that strong expressions of HA (P=0.008) and HAS2 (P=0.022) were significantly associated with shorter survival time after surgery. By contrast, weak expression of HYAL1 was significantly associated with poor survival (P=0.001). In multivariate analysis, tumor stage (hazard ratio (HR)=2.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-6.66 P=0.024), strong HA expression (HR=6.04, 95%CI: 1.42-25.69 P=0.015), and weak HYAL1 expression (HR=3.16, 95%CI: 1.19-8.40 P=0.021) were independent factors predicting poor survival. ELISA revealed higher concentration of HA in pancreatic cancer tissues than in normal pancreatic tissues (P=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest, for the first time, that HA and its regulators may have prognostic impact in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Department of Surgery 1, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan ; Department of Breast Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Xiao-Bo
XB
Cheng
Norihiro
N
Sato
Shiro
S
Kohi
Koji
K
Yamaguchi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid