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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Oncogene Expression Analysis with Alterations in pH in a Pancreatic Ductal Cell Line
Published on: April 11, 2025
Increased expression of Nodal correlates with reduced patient survival in pancreatic cancer
Bo Kong1, Weibin Wang2, Irene Esposito3
1Department of Surgery, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Background:
Nodal (nodal growth differentiation factor) and its inhibitor Lefty (left right determination factor), which are ligands of the TGF (transforming growth factor) β superfamily, are responsible for the determination of left-right asymmetry in vertebrates. Nodal/Lefty signaling has been suggested to play a role in the development of metastatic melanoma and breast cancer. However, it remains unclear whether this pathway is also involved in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Methods:
Pancreatic cancer patient specimens with clinical data (n = 54) were used to investigate the clinical significance of Nodal-Lefty signaling. A set of in vitro assays were carried out in a human pancreatic cancer cell line (Colo-357) to assess the functional relevance of Nodal-Lefty signaling.
Results:
Nodal was absent in the human normal pancreas, while Lefty was present in islet cells. Though Nodal and Lefty expression were found in cancer cells at various expression levels, the cancer-associated tubular complexes were particularly positive for Lefty. Survival analysis revealed that high expression of Nodal correlated with reduced patient survival (median survival 17.8 vs 33.0 months, p = 0.013). Cultured pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed Nodal and Lefty at different levels. In vitro functional assays revealed that treatment with human recombinant Nodal inhibited cell growth and increased invasion of Colo-357 pancreatic cancer cells whereas no effect was found upon treatment with recombinant Lefty.
Conclusion:
Nodal-Lefty signaling might be involved in the pathogenesis of PDAC as Nodal expression marks a subtype of PDAC with unfavorable prognosis.
Insights
Nodal-Lefty signaling may drive pancreatic cancer. High Nodal expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) correlates with poorer patient survival and impacts cell growth and invasion.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Nodal and Lefty are TGF-β superfamily ligands crucial for vertebrate left-right asymmetry.
- Their roles in metastatic melanoma and breast cancer are known, but involvement in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical significance and functional relevance of Nodal-Lefty signaling in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 54 human pancreatic cancer patient specimens.
- In vitro assays using the human pancreatic cancer cell line Colo-357.
Main Results:
- Nodal was absent in normal pancreas, Lefty present in islet cells; both expressed in PDAC.
- High Nodal expression correlated with reduced patient survival (17.8 vs 33.0 months, p=0.013).
- Nodal inhibited cell growth and increased invasion in vitro, while Lefty had no effect.
Conclusions:
- Nodal-Lefty signaling is potentially involved in PDAC pathogenesis.
- Nodal expression identifies a PDAC subtype with a poor prognosis.
