Increased tissue and circulating levels of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzymatic activity in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background/objectives: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently heralded by an impairment of glucose homeostasis. Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) are aminopeptidases that regulate several bioactive peptides involved in glucoregulation, and are frequently dysregulated in cancer. The present study analyzes blood plasma levels and the quantity and localization of DPP-IV and FAP in PDAC tissues.

Methods: DPP-IV and FAP concentration and enzymatic activity were evaluated in the plasma from 93 PDAC, 39 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 29 control subjects, and in matched paired non-tumorous and tumor tissues from 48 PDAC patients. The localization of DPP-IV and FAP was determined using immunohistochemistry and catalytic histochemistry.

Results: The enzymatic activity and concentration of DPP-IV was higher in PDAC tumor tissues compared to non-tumorous pancreas. DPP-IV was expressed in cancer cells and in the fibrotic stroma by activated (myo)fibroblasts including DPP-IV(+)FAP(+) cells. FAP was expressed in stromal cells and in some cancer cells and its expression was increased in the tumors. Plasmatic DPP-IV enzymatic activity, and in particular the ratio between DPP-IV enzymatic activity and concentration in PDAC with recent onset DM was higher compared to T2DM. In contrast, the plasmatic FAP enzymatic activity was lower in PDAC compared to T2DM and controls and rose after tumor removal.

Conclusions: DPP-IV-like enzymatic activity is upregulated in PDAC tissues. PDAC patients with recent onset diabetes or prediabetes have increased plasmatic DPP-IV enzymatic activity. These changes may contribute to the frequently observed association of PDAC and recent onset impairment of glucoregulation.