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Expression of pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA in gastrointestinal cancers
1Department of Internal Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Conclusion:
Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA is expressed in some cases of gastric and colorectal cancers resulting from an ectopic expression in dedifferentiated cancer cells.
Background:
The PAP gene is identical to the hepatoma-intestine-pancreas (HIP) gene, which is expressed in hepatoma. Expression in cancer might be another characteristic of PAP.
Methods:
Fresh surgical specimens of 100 gastrointestinal cancers, 14 benign digestive diseases, and six normal organs were studied with nonisotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) using biotin-labeled cDNA probe.
Results:
PAP mRNA was detected in 10% (6/60) of gastric cancers, 21.4% (6/28) of colorectal cancers, 20.0% (1/5) of pancreatic cancers and 0% of biliary tract (three), esophageal (one), and hepatocellular cancers (three). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detected PAP mRNA in these ISH-positive cases. PAP mRNA was not detected in noncancerous portions, benign disease tissues, or normal organs except for the small intestine. There was no relationship between PAP mRNA expression and any clinicopathological factors.
Insights
Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA, also known as the hepatoma-intestine-pancreas (HIP) gene, is ectopically expressed in some gastric and colorectal cancers. This finding suggests a potential role for PAP in dedifferentiated cancer cells.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Oncology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- The Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) gene is identical to the hepatoma-intestine-pancreas (HIP) gene.
- HIP gene expression is observed in hepatoma, suggesting PAP expression may be a characteristic of cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA in various gastrointestinal cancers.
- To determine if PAP mRNA expression is associated with specific cancer types or clinicopathological factors.
Main Methods:
- Nonisotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) using a biotin-labeled cDNA probe on 100 gastrointestinal cancer specimens, 14 benign digestive diseases, and six normal organs.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm PAP mRNA detection in ISH-positive cases.
Main Results:
- PAP mRNA was detected in 10% of gastric cancers, 21.4% of colorectal cancers, and 20% of pancreatic cancers.
- PAP mRNA was not found in noncancerous tissues, benign diseases, or most normal organs, except for the small intestine.
- No correlation was found between PAP mRNA expression and clinicopathological factors.
Conclusions:
- Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA is ectopically expressed in a subset of gastric and colorectal cancers.
- This ectopic expression occurs in dedifferentiated cancer cells, indicating a potential role in cancer development or progression.