The autophagy-related genes Beclin1 and LC3 in the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the role of the autophagy-related genes Beclin1 and LC3 in the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: A total of 86 pancreatic cancer tissues and 84 paired, adjacent normal pancreatic tissues were collected from 86 patients who underwent pancreatic resection surgery in our hospital from January 2009 to August 2011. Demographic data including age, gender, family cancer history, and clinic-pathological characteristics, including tumor diameter, differential, TNM staging and lymphatic metastasis were collected. The expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 were determined using both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-qPCR.

Results: The expression levels of both Beclin1 and LC3 mRNA and proteins were significantly up-regulated in the tumor tissues compared with the normal tissues. Higher expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 were found in the tumor tissues of patients with TNM stages III~IV, patients with lymphatic metastasis, and patients who died. Meanwhile Beclin1 and LC3 correlated with TNM stage, differential condition, and the patients' lymphatic metastasis rates. A survival analysis showed that patients with low expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 had longer survival times, and both the Beclin1 and LC3 genes were independent risk factors for 5-year mortality in pancreatic cancer patients.

Conclusion: The Beclin1 and LC3 genes correlate with the tumor stage, metastasis conditions, and pancreatic cancer patients' mortality.