转录因子Twist及其相关因子N-cadherin在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

Expression and role of Twist and N-cadherin in pancreatic cancer

目的探讨转录因子Twist及其下游相关因子N—cadherin在人胰腺癌组织中的表达及与肿瘤临床病理特征、患者预后的关系。方法采用免疫组化MaxVision两步法分别检测62例胰腺癌组织和10例正常胰腺组织中Twist及N-cadherin的表达，分析二者表达与临床病理特征及患者预后的相关性。结果Twist在胰腺癌组织的阳性表达率明显高于正常胰腺组织（96．8％比30．0％，P〈0．01），N-cadherin在胰腺癌组织的阳性表达率也明显高于正常胰腺组织（75．8％比0，P〈0．01），但两者的表达无明显相关性（r=0．100，P=0．441）。Twist及N-cadherin表达与胰腺癌TNM分期、淋巴结转移、门静脉或神经浸润、肿瘤部位均密切相关（P值均〈0．05），与患者年龄、性别及肿瘤分化程度均无明显相关性（P值均〉0．05）。胰腺癌患者术后生存期随Twist表达的增强而缩短，但与N．cadherin表达强度无明显相关性。TNM分期、Twist表达强度是影响胰腺癌患者预后的独立因素。结论胰腺癌组织Twist及N-cadherin均高表达，其表达与胰腺癌的恶性生物学行为相关，Twist的异常表达可能是评估胰腺癌患者预后的潜在指标。

Objective To investigate the expression of Twist and N-cadherin in pancreatic cancer, and to study its relationship with clinicopathological parameters and patients＇ prognosis. Methods The expression of the Twist and N-cadherin in 62 tissue samples from patients with pancreatic ductal adencocarcinoma and 10 normal pancreatic tissue samples was determined by using immunohistochemistry MaxVision two step method ,and the relationship with clinicopathological parameters and patients＇ prognosis was analyzed. Results The positive expression rate of Twist in pancreatic cancer was higher than that of normal pancreatic tissues （96.8% vs. 30%, P 〈0.01 ）, and the positive expression rate of N-cadherin was higher than that of normal pancreatic tissues （75.8% vs. O, P 〈0.01 ）, but there was no correlation between them （r =0. 100, P =0.441 ）. The expressions of Twist and N-cadherin was significantly correlated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, infiltration of portal vein or nerves and tumor location （ P 〈 0.05 ）, but not with age, gender and degree of differentiation （ P 〉 0.05 ）. The post-operative survival of patients decreased with the increasing Twist expression, but the survival was not associated with the expression of N-cadherin. TNM stage, the expression of Twist was independent predictive factors of prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusions Twist and N-cadherin are highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and the expression was associated malignant behavior of pancreatic cancer. The abnormal expression of Twist may be a potential marker for prognosis evaluation of pancreatic cancer patients.