Analysis of gene expression profiles in pancreatic carcinoma by using cDNA microarray

OBJECTIVES: To survey the gene expression profiles in pancreatic carcinoma by using cDNA microarrayand detect target genes for further study.METHODS: Three mixed samples from 2 cases of normal pancreatic tissue and 4 cases ofmoderate-differentiated pancreatic carcinoma were studied by means of cDNA microarray consisting of18 000 genes.RESULTS: 1484 and 1353 different expressed genes were observed in two cancer samples respectively.We identified 455 genes altered with the same tendency in both samples, including 102 up-regulated and353 down-regulated genes. There were 274 known genes and 181 unknown genes; 27.8% and 52.0%genes respectively had an expression level in cancer that was 2-fold higher or lower than that in normalsamples. Tumor suppressor genes, growth factors and receptor genes, signal conduction genes,transcription factor genes were identified.CONCLUSIONS: cDNA microarray is an efficient and high-throughout method to investigate geneexpression profiles in pancreatic carcinoma. MBD1, EDG1 and gene hypermethylation mechanism wouldplay an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic carcinoma.