Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) was previously established to impact several phenotypes in many kinds of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. However, its prognostic significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) needs support of further evidence. This study was designed to address the issue. Methods: PAI-1 expression was detected by tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical staining in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from 93 PDAC patients with surgical resection from September 2004 to December 2008. Its relationships with clinicopathologic variables and tumor-specific survival (TSS) were further evaluated using Chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank, as well as Cox regression analyses. Results: Expression of PAI-1 was much higher in tumor than that in nontumor tissues, based on comparison of all samples and 74 matched ones (95 [47.5, 180] vs. 80 [45, 95], Z = -2.439, P = 0.015 and 100 [46.9, 182.5] vs. 80 [45, 95], Z = -2.594, P = 0.009, respectively). In addition, tumoral PAI-1 expression was positively associated with N stage (22/35 for N1 vs. 21/51 for N0, χ = 3.903, P = 0.048). Univariate analyses showed that TSS of patients with high PAI-1 tumors was significantly poorer than that of those with low PAI-1 tumors (log rank value = 19.00, P < 0.0001). In multivariate Cox regression test, PAI-1 expression was identified as an independent predictor for long-term prognosis of resectable PDAC (hazard ratio = 2.559, 95% confidence interval = 1.499-4.367, P = 0.001). Conclusion These results suggest that expression of PAI-1 is upregulated in PDAC and might serve as a poor prognostic indicator.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; chemistry ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; chemistry ; mortality ; pathology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; analysis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models

OBJECTIVETo ascertain whether proanthocyanidins inhibit cell growth and migration by increasing let-7a expression in pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells.

METHODSThe proliferation rate, cell apoptosis rate and cell migration ability of AsPC-1 cells treated with proanthocyanidins were measured by MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and Transwell migration assay, respectively. The expression of let-7a AsPC cells was detected by miRNA real-time RT-PCR after proanthocyanidins treatment. The changes in the biological behaviors of AsPC-1 cells were evaluated after transfection with let-7a mimics.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, proanthocyanidins treatment caused dose-dependent decrements of the proliferation rate and migration ability and increased the apoptosis rate in AsPC-1 cells. AsPC-1 cells with proanthocyanidins treatment showed increased expression of let-7a. Transfection with let-7a mimics resulted in obvious decreases in the cell growth rate and migration ability, and proanthocyanidins treatment significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of let-7a mimics.

CONCLUSIONProanthocyanidins-induced cell growth and migration inhibition are partially mediated by up-regulation of let-7a expression in AsPC-1 cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proanthocyanidins ; chemistry ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation

Herein, we report the case of a large benign insulinoma in an obese young man with a three-year history of asymptomatic hypoglycaemia. He presented to our outpatient department with a two-week history of dizziness and morning cold sweats. A random serum glucose test revealed hypoglycaemia. Upon admission, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen with intravenous contrast media showed an enhancing mass lesion in the uncinate process of the pancreas. To confirm the diagnosis, an intra-arterial calcium stimulation test with hepatic venous sampling was performed for preoperative localisation and to exclude the presence of occult insulinomas. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, with successful resection of the pancreatic head tumour. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful, and he has not developed further episodes of hypoglycaemia three years post surgery.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Contrast Media ; chemistry ; Hepatic Veins ; pathology ; Humans ; Insulinoma ; blood ; complications ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; complications ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

No abstract available.
Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Papillary/chemistry/*secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms/chemistry/*secondary ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/chemistry/*pathology ; Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis

The solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a rare but low-grade malignant tumor with a good prognosis after surgical excision. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a minimally invasive, safe and reliable way of diagnosing SPT by providing characteristic cytological and immunochemical specimens. Definitive preoperative diagnosis leads to targeted and minimally invasive surgical resection. In this study, we report three cases of SPTs that were diagnosed through EUS-FNA and underwent successful laparoscopic surgery.
Adult ; Biopsy ; *Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Pancreatectomy/methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/chemistry/*pathology/surgery ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis

Pancreatic endocrine tumours (PETs) are uncommon tumours with typical morphology characterised by relatively uniform cuboidal cells arranged in nests and festoons, with distinctive nuclear salt-and-pepper chromatin. A lipid-rich variant poses diagnostic difficulties in the midst of other pancreatic tumours and metastatic goblet cell carcinoid. A 22-year-old man presented with symptoms of abdominal pain and jaundice. His liver function test and blood glucose level were normal, but computed tomography of the abdomen suggested the presence of a tumour in the head of the pancreas. Specimen obtained by pancreaticoduodenectomy revealed an infiltrating yellow-tan tumour composed of nests and a cribriform arrangement of polygonal vacuolated cells with pyknotic nuclei, along with focal classical areas of PET. Two foci of early serous microcystic adenoma were seen. Immunohistochemistry contributed to the arrival of a conclusive diagnosis. Von Hippel-Lindau disease was excluded in our patient, as other supportive classical features of the syndrome were absent.
Adenoma ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Carcinoid Tumor ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Young Adult

Recent studies reported that thymoquinone (TQ), a component derived from the medicinal spice Nigella sativa (also called black cumin), exhibited inhibitory effects on cell proliferation of many cancer cell lines. This study was performed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of thymoquinone on the pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that thymoquinone suppressed the migration and invasion of Panc-1 cells in a does-dependent manner. To investigate the possible mechanisms involved in these events, Western blotting analysis was performed, and found that thymoquinone significantly down-regulates NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in Panc-1 cells. In addition, metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotropic implantation of histologically intact pancreatic tumor tissue into the pancreatic wall of nude mice. And administration of thymoquinone significantly reduced tumor metastasis compared to untreated control. Furthermore, the expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in tumor tissues was also suppressed after treatment with thymoquinone. Taken together, the results indicate that thymoquinone exerts anti-metastatic activity on pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to down-regulation of NF-kappaB and its regulated molecules such as MMP-9 protein. Consequently, these results provide important insights into thymoquinone as an antimetastatic agent for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.
Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzoquinones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Nigella sativa ; chemistry ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the effect of Icogenin on and its mechanism in anti-metastasis of pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells in vitro. Using transwell assay, the effects of Icogenin on the invasion of BxPC3 cells were measured. The abilities of cell motility and adhesion in BxPC3 cells were detected by MTT assay and wound healing assay, respectively. The MAPK signal pathway protein expressions were analyzed with Western blotting. Also, the activity of MMP2 was observed by zymography assay. Icogenin inhibited the abilities of motility, adhesion and invasion of pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells in vitro (P < 0.05), in a dose-depended manner, and inhibited the secretion of MMP2 and phosphorylation of ERK. PD98059 and U0126 which were ERK inhibitors could suppress the abilities of invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells. It is concluded that Icogenin can inhibit the abilities of invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer in vitro by inhibiting the secretion of MMP2 and phosphorylation of ERK.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dracaena ; chemistry ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; secretion ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Steroids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Actins ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-19 ; analysis ; Keratin-20 ; analysis ; Muscle, Smooth ; chemistry ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis