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Differential expression of aquaporin‐3 and aquaporin‐5 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Author(s) -
Direito Inês,
Paulino Jorge,
Vigia Emanuel,
Brito Maria Alexandra,
Soveral Graça
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.24605
Subject(s) - aquaporin 3 , ductal cells , pathology , adenocarcinoma , immunohistochemistry , carcinogenesis , aquaporin , cancer research , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , pancreatic cancer , apical membrane , biology , medicine , cancer , epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , metastasis
Background and Objectives Aquaporin‐5 (AQP5) and −3 (AQP3) are protein channels that showed to be up‐regulated in a variety of tumors. Our goal was to investigate the expression pattern of AQP5 and AQP3 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDA) and correlate with cell proliferation, tumor stage and progression, and clinical significance. Methods 35 PDA samples in different stages of differentiation and locations were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of AQP5, AQP3 and several markers of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Results In PDA samples AQP5 was overexpressed in the apical membrane of intercalated and intralobular ductal cells while AQP3 was expressed at the plasma membrane of ductal cells. AQP5 was also found in infiltrative cancer cells in duodenum. Simultaneous overexpression of EGFR, Ki‐67, and CK7, with decreased E‐cad and increased Vim that characterize epithelial mesenchymal transition, tumor formation and invasion, strongly suggest AQP3 and AQP5 involvement in cell proliferation and transformation. AQP3 overexpression is reinforced in late and more aggressive PDA stages whereas AQP5 is related with tumor differentiation, suggesting it may represent a novel marker for PDA aggressiveness and intestinal infiltration. Conclusions These findings suggest AQP3 and AQP5 involvement in PDA development and the usefulness of AQP5 in early PDA diagnosis.