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Strong claudin 5 expression is a poor prognostic sign in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

  • Research Article
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Tumor Biology

Abstract

We investigated the expression of claudin 5 in 88 ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas. The results were correlated with patient prognosis, with claudin 5 expression in blood vessels, with the expression level of bcl2 and bax and with apoptosis. Claudin 5 expression was detected in 24 (38 %) cases. It was not associated with tumour size or spread, but strong claudin 5 expression correlated with a worse survival (p = 0.005). Claudin 5 also associated with a higher extent of apoptosis and greater expression of bax protein. In the tumour vasculature, some vessels displayed a loss of claudin 5 expression. The presence of this loss was associated with tumour grade and the presence of nodal metastases (p = 0.02, p = 0.022, respectively). These results indicate that claudin 5 is upregulated in a proportion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. The association of strong claudin 5 expression with a worse survival is in line with some earlier reports indicating that this protein is involved with increased locomotion and more aggressive spread of carcinomas. The association of claudin 5 with apoptosis and bax might be due to stronger cellular kinetics found in such tumours. The loss of claudin 5 expression in the tumour vasculature points to a leaky vessel type; this might also ease the access of tumours to vessels and be reflected in its association with the presence of nodal metastases.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the support of the Finnish Anti-Tuberculosis Association and the Finnish Cancer Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Cancer Center of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    Ylermi Soini & V. Kärjä

  2. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    M. Eskelinen & P. Juvonen

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    K. M. Haapasaari

  4. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland

    A. Saarela

  5. Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland

    P. Karihtala

  6. Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Po Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Ylermi Soini

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  1. Ylermi Soini
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  2. M. Eskelinen
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  3. P. Juvonen
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  4. V. Kärjä
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Correspondence to Ylermi Soini.

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Soini, Y., Eskelinen, M., Juvonen, P. et al. Strong claudin 5 expression is a poor prognostic sign in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Tumor Biol. 35, 3803–3808 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1503-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1503-7

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