title: Identification and characterization of the gene expression profiles for protein coding and non-coding RNAs of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.
abstract: Significant advances have been achieved in recent years in the identification of the genetic and the molecular alterations of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite this, at present the understanding of the precise mechanisms involved in the development and malignant transformation of PDAC remain relatively limited. Here, we evaluated for the first time, the molecular heterogeneity of PDAC tumors, through simultaneous assessment of the gene expression profile (GEP) for both coding and non-coding genes of tumor samples from 27 consecutive PDAC patients. Overall, we identified a common GEP for all PDAC tumors, characterized by an increased expression of genes involved in PDAC cell proliferation, local invasion and metastatic capacity, together with a significant alteration of the early steps of the cellular immune response. At the same time, we confirm and extend on previous observations about the genetic complexity of PDAC tumors as revealed by the demonstration of two clearly distinct and unique GEPs (e.g. epithelial-like vs. mesenchymal-like) reflecting the alteration of different signaling pathways involved in the oncogenesis and progression of these tumors. Our results also highlight the potential role of the immune system microenvironment in these tumors, with potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Cytometry Service-NUCLEUS, Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL) and IBSAL (University of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: María Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center and Service of Hematology (University Hospital of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corchete
authors.affiliation: Cytometry Service-NUCLEUS, Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL) and IBSAL (University of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teodosio
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center and Service of Hematology (University Hospital of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sarasquete
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology (University Hospital of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Mar Abad
authors.affiliation: Service of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery and IBSAL (University Hospital of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Service of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery and IBSAL (University Hospital of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.affiliation: Cytometry Service-NUCLEUS, Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL) and IBSAL (University of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sayagues
authors.affiliation: Cytometry Service-NUCLEUS, Department of Medicine, Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL) and IBSAL (University of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orfao
authors.affiliation: Service of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery and IBSAL (University Hospital of Salamanca), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Bellvis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: EMT-like tumors; gene expression profile; mRNA; non-coding RNA; pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma