Differential expression of the cell-adhesion molecule Nr-CAM in hyperplastic and neoplastic human pancreatic tissue

Human Pathology
K M DhodapkarM Grumet

Abstract

Nr-CAM is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of neural cell-adhesion molecules initially thought to be expressed mainly in the brain. Here we show the presence of Nr-CAM protein in normal human pancreas and characterize its expression in hyperplastic and neoplastic human pancreatic tissue. Nr-CAM is expressed on the cell surface in normal pancreatic acini with enhanced staining at cell-cell junctions, and weak or no surface staining is seen on normal ductal cells. Nr-CAM expression is markedly up-regulated in intraductal hyperplasia. Expression was well maintained in well or moderately differentiated carcinoma but was reduced or absent from most poorly differentiated tumors. In addition, 4 of 4 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines tested demonstrated little or no Nr-CAM expression. This differential regulation of Nr-CAM expression suggests that it may be involved in the pathogenesis and invasive/metastatic behavior of pancreatic cancers. HUM PATHOL 32:396-400.

Citations

Feb 18, 2004·Nature Reviews. Cancer·Ugo Cavallaro, Gerhard Christofori
Jan 29, 2020·Open Medicine·Robin WachowiakMichael Tachezy

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