title: Analysis of the origin of anaplastic pancreatic cancer and the mechanism of its dedifferentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We researched the origin and progression of anaplastic pancreatic cancer (APC) from the viewpoints of cell lineage, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem-like cells (CSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using specimens from patients with APC and differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), expression of sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9), E-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1, Snail, N-cadherin, CD24 and CD44 was estimated using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all cases were positive for SOX9 expression. APC cases were negative, but many PDAC cases were positive for the expression of E-cadherin. A much higher number of APC cases than PDAC cases were positive for the expression of other EMT related proteins and for the expression of CSC related proteins. The ductal cancerous component of APC accounted for an average of 12% of the cancerous lesion and the expression of each marker in this component was similar to that of PDAC cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anaplastic pancreatic cancer had pancreatic duct cell like features and might gain dedifferentiate components through EMT and the acquisition of CSC properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadaaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazoe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ohira
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kametani
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Anaplastic pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Phenotype