Tumoral epithelial and stromal expression of SMAD proteins in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas
Abstract
SMAD proteins, intracellular mediators of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta pathway, function within two axes, the SMAD1/5/8 and SMAD2/3, connected to TGF-beta and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands. The SMAD proteins of these two axes dimerize with SMAD4 and translocate to the nucleus. SMAD signaling is characterized by a dichotomic functioning, with tumor-suppressive functions and with loss of normal growth inhibitory responses, depending on the carcinogenesis stage. SMAD proteins also have pro-tumor effects including abnormal extracellular matrix production. Among tumors, pancreatic cancers harbor SMAD4 inactivation the most frequently and the SMAD proteins are considered to be key factors in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Our aims were to study the expression patterns of the different types of SMAD proteins in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas treated by surgical resection (without neoadjuvant treatment) and their correlations with morphological and clinical characteristics. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of SMAD4, SMAD1/5/8, and SMAD2/3 in 99 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Antibodies directed against the activated, phosphorylated forms of proteins were used when appropriate (SMAD1/5/8, SMAD2/3...Continue Reading
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Advanced pancreatic ductal cancer: fibrotic focus and beta-catenin expression correlate with outcome
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Carcinoma, Ductal
Ductal carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm involving the ductal systems of any of a number of organs, such as the mammary glands, pancreas, prostate or lacrimal gland. Discover the latest research on ductal carcinoma here.