High STMN1 Expression Is Associated with Tumor Differentiation and Metastasis in Clinical Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Stathmin 1 (STMN1) suppression was reported to reduce cellular viability and migration potential. However, no previous studies have addressed whether STMN1 overexpression is associated with malignant potential in PDAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To clarify the clinical significance of STMN1 in PDAC, the STMN1 expression in 104 PDAC samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we evaluated the proliferative potential and migration ability of pancreatic cancer cell line Suit2 cells highly expressing STMN1. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic STMN1 were higher levels in PDAC than in corresponding non-cancerous tissues. PDAC patients with high STMN1 (n=29) were significantly associated with poor differentiation and distant metastasis compared to those with low STMN1 (n=75). The proliferation rates and migration ability in Suit2-STMN1 were higher than those of Suit2-mock. CONCLUSION: STMN1 evaluation could be a useful progression marker, and STMN1 may be a promising candidate for targeted therapies in PDAC.