Epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Expression of transcription factors that mediate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), such as Twist and Slug, is correlated with poor prognosis in many tumor types. Selected EMT markers were studied in a series of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAs) and benign pancreatic tissues to determine whether expression levels correlated with diagnosis, histologic grade, or patient outcome.

Immunohistochemical stains for Twist, Slug, and N-cadherin were performed using a tissue microarray containing 68 PDAs and 38 samples of normal pancreas or chronic pancreatitis tissues.

Twist and Slug were identified in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of benign pancreatic ductal epithelium, chronic pancreatitis, and PDA. Compared with normal ductal epithelium, nuclear levels of Twist are decreased in PDA. None of the other EMT markers showed significant differences in staining indices among the diagnostic groups. There were no correlations between EMT marker expression and histologic grade. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression was not associated with N-cadherin expression, patient outcome, or duration of survival.

Decreased expression of nuclear Twist is observed in malignant pancreatic epithelium. However, use of Twist as a diagnostic marker is precluded because decreased expression is also seen in chronic pancreatitis. None of the markers studied were predictive of patient outcome.