Overexpression of connexin 26 in carcinoma of the pancreas

  • Authors:
    • Naganori Kyo
    • Hirofumi Yamamoto
    • Yutaka Takeda
    • Koji Ezumi
    • Chew Yee Ngan
    • Motokazu Terayama
    • Masakazu Miyake
    • Ichiro Takemasa
    • Masataka Ikeda
    • Yuichiro Doki
    • Keizo Dono
    • Mitsugu Sekimoto
    • Hiroshi Nojima
    • Morito Monden
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 1, 2008     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.3.627
  • Pages: 627-631
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Abstract

Contrary to the previously purported role of gap junction (GJ) associated-protein connexin 26 (Cx26) as a tumor suppressor, increased expression of Cx26 has recently been demonstrated in several human malignancies. Surprisingly, this high expression is reportedly related to poor prognosis in squamous cell lung carcinoma and breast cancer. In this study, we examined levels of Cx26 in various human gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas, with a focus on pancreatic carcinomas, using immunohistochemistry. Many GI carcinomas displayed abundant Cx26 expression, predominantly in the cytoplasm. Cx26 was detected in 5/8 gastric cancers (62.5%), 6/8 squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus (75.0%), 7/8 pancreatic cancers (87.5%) and 7/8 colon cancer cases (87.5%). However, Cx26 expression was not present in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 0/8). Extensive immunohistochemical examination was performed on pancreatic carcinomas, revealing strong expression of Cx26 protein in 30/43 cases (70%), weak expression in 6/43 (14%) and no expression in 7/43 (16%). The present study demonstrated up-regulated Cx26 expression in a considerable percentage of GI carcinomas, with the exception of HCC. Our findings suggest that Cx26 may be involved in some of the malignant processes of GI cancers, and especially in pancreatic carcinomas.

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March 2008
Volume 19 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Kyo N, Yamamoto H, Takeda Y, Ezumi K, Ngan CY, Terayama M, Miyake M, Takemasa I, Ikeda M, Doki Y, Doki Y, et al: Overexpression of connexin 26 in carcinoma of the pancreas. Oncol Rep 19: 627-631, 2008
APA
Kyo, N., Yamamoto, H., Takeda, Y., Ezumi, K., Ngan, C.Y., Terayama, M. ... Monden, M. (2008). Overexpression of connexin 26 in carcinoma of the pancreas. Oncology Reports, 19, 627-631. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.3.627
MLA
Kyo, N., Yamamoto, H., Takeda, Y., Ezumi, K., Ngan, C. Y., Terayama, M., Miyake, M., Takemasa, I., Ikeda, M., Doki, Y., Dono, K., Sekimoto, M., Nojima, H., Monden, M."Overexpression of connexin 26 in carcinoma of the pancreas". Oncology Reports 19.3 (2008): 627-631.
Chicago
Kyo, N., Yamamoto, H., Takeda, Y., Ezumi, K., Ngan, C. Y., Terayama, M., Miyake, M., Takemasa, I., Ikeda, M., Doki, Y., Dono, K., Sekimoto, M., Nojima, H., Monden, M."Overexpression of connexin 26 in carcinoma of the pancreas". Oncology Reports 19, no. 3 (2008): 627-631. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.19.3.627