OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between heparanase 1 (Hpa1) expression and the development of human pancreatic cancer.

METHODSReal-time PCR and Western blot methods were used the expression of Hpa1 in 37 cases of pancreatic cancer were analyzed quantitatively. The relationship between the expression of Hpa1 and the clinicopathological features of pancreatic cancer was analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression of Hpa1 mRNA in pancreatic cancer was 23.53 +/- 4.13, in pancreatic tissues was 4.08 +/- 2.14 and in pancreatic cancer adjacent tissue was 16.93 +/- 3.06 by real-time PCR detected (P < 0.01). The expression of Hpa1 protein in normal tissue was 0.36 +/- 0.14, in pancreatic cancer adjacent tissue was 1.21 +/- 0.37 and in pancreatic cancer tissue was 1.76 +/- 0.28 by Western blot detected (P < 0.05). The expression of Hpa1 mRNA and Hpa1 protein in pancreatic cancer tissue were both higher than pancreatic cancer adjacent tissue and normal tissue. The expression of Hpa1 was significant associated with TNM grade and Invasion to nerves or vascellum lymph node metastasis separately (P < 0.05). But no relationship between histological differentiation and the tumor size (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe Hpa1 overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and its abnormal expression may be involved in the oncogenesis and development of pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glucuronidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify protein markers for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by a comparative proteomic method.

METHODSComparative analysis on the pancreatic peripheral blood protein profiling from 20 pancreatic cancer patients, 10 chronic pancreatitis patients and 20 cancer-free controls from May 2007 to September 2008 was carried out by two-dimensional fluorescence electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The significance difference proteins were confirmed by Western-blot.

RESULTSA differentially expressed proteins: complement 3 (C3) was identified. The gray level of C3 in pancreatic cancer tissue, chronic pancreatitis, and normal control group were 1.63 ± 0.28, 0.65 ± 0.13 (t = 11.81, P = 0.00) and 0.88 ± 0.19 (t = 9.93, P = 0.00), respectively. C3 was high expression in pancreatic cancer group compared with normal control group. The expression of C3 was higher in pancreatic cancer group than in chronic pancreatitis group. The high expression of C3 in pancreatic carcinoma was confirmed by Western blot.

CONCLUSIONS2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF-MS technology is a quick, easy and practical method to screen for specific biomarkers in serum of patients with pancreatic carcinoma. The identified protein C3 in this study may be as specific serum biomarkers of pancreatic carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; blood ; Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Two-Dimensional Difference Gel Electrophoresis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between CD4- CD8- T cells ratio and IL-4, IFN-gamma levels in the peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODSFlow cytometer was used to analyze the CD4- CD8- T cells ratio in the peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic carcinoma and the IL-4, IFN-gamma levels were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe ratio of CD4- CD8- T cell in CD3+ T cell from 25 pancreatic carcinoma patients was (4.2 +/- 1.7)%, the ratio of CD4- CD8- T cell in CD3+ T cell from 45 healthy person was (6.3 +/- 2.6)%, there was significant deviation between the two groups (P < 0.01). The IL-4 level of 25 pancreatic carcinoma patients was (86.3 +/- 23.3) fg/L, the IL-4 level of 45 healthy person was (56.2 +/- 9.2) fg/L,there was significant deviation between the two groups (P < 0.01). The IFN-gamma level of 25 pancreatic carcinoma patients was (16.4 +/- 4.8) fg/L before operation, the IFN-gamma level of 45 healthy person was (27.4 +/- 3.8) fg/L, there was significant deviation between the two groups (P < 0.01). The ratio of CD4- CD8- T cell in pancreatic carcinoma patient after operation was higher than before operation. It could be found negative correlation between CD4- CD8- T cells ratio and IL-4 level in pancreatic carcinoma patient,it could also be found positive correlation between CD4- CD8- T cells ratio and IFN-gamma level in pancreatic carcinoma patient. In pancreatic carcinoma patient, the CD4- CD8- T cells ratio and IL-4 level was significant associated with clinical stage (P < 0.05), but no relationship with histological differentiation (P > 0.05), it could be found no relationship between IFN-gamma level and clinical stage, histological differentiation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe CD4- CD8- T cells ratio in the peripheral blood of patients is decreased,it may be participate in the carcinogenesis and development of pancreatic carcinoma by influence the IFN-gamma levels.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology