title: Overexpression of YKL-40 Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Curative Resection of Pancreatic Cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of YKL-40 expression in patients undergoing curative resection of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  
  This cohort study included 234 consecutive patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative resection. Surgical specimens were immunohistochemically assessed for YKL-40 expression. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to evaluate the prognostic impact of YKL-40 expression. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to examine the correlation between YKL-40 expression and tumor stage.
  
  
  
  Of the 234 patients, YKL-40 overexpression was detected in 149 (63.7%) patients. Survival curves showed that patients with YKL-40 overexpression had significantly shorter survival time than those with low YKL-40 expression (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis indicated that YKL-40 expression was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (hazard ratio, 3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.38-6.13) and progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 3.73; 95% CI, 2.33-5.99). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that YKL-40 overexpression was an independent predictor for advanced tumor stage (odds ratio 4.15; 95% CI, 1.35-12.71).
  
  
  
  YKL-40 overexpression predicts poor prognosis and advanced tumor stage in patients undergoing curative resection of pancreatic cancer. Application of adjuvant treatment targeting the YKL-40 pathway may improve prognosis.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, †Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine, and Departments of ‡Geriatrics, and §Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yong-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Quan-Cai
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Zhao-Shen
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1