Inflammation Marker Related to Obesity is Elevated in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
The levels of an inflammatory chemokine were significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer who were extremely
obese, according to research conducted by scientists at the Jefferson Pancreatic, Biliary and Related Cancers Center. They presented their data at the 5th Annual Academic Surgical Congress, held in San Antonio.
Studies
have shown that obesity is correlated with inflammation. Similarly,
studies have also shown that inflammation contributes to the tumor
progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). This study looks
at the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a marker of
inflammation, in obese patients with pancreatic cancer.
Hwyda
Arafat, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Surgery at Jefferson
Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and colleagues sought
to identify whether MCP-1 could serve as a marker for pancreatic
cancer, and a differentiation marker between benign and malignant
lesions.
The
research team analyzed the MCP-1 levels in serum samples obtained from
patients with confirmed PDA or intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms
(IPMN). They found that the levels of MCP-1 were significantly elevated
in extremely obese patients. In the less obese population (BMI <
37.5), the MCP-1 levels were elevated only in patients with PDA. In the
patients who had IPMN, high levels of MCP-1 also correlated with older
age.
“MCP-1
has potential as a biomarker for pancreatic cancer, but this needs to
be confirmed in a larger sample size,” Dr. Arafat said. “Further study
of this protein in a larger sample size and different benign and
unresectable malignant lesions is needed. Understanding the nature of
the relationship of its elevation with age and the highest levels of
obesity will assist with the full development of the potential clinical
usage of this marker.”
The
study will be presented by first author Jennifer Sullivan, a former
resident in Dr. Arafat’s lab. Terry Hyslop, Ph.D., Director of the
Division of Biostatistics, and Charles Yeo, M.D., the Samuel D. Gross
Professor and Chairman of Surgery, also participated in the study.
Media Only Contact:
Emily Shafer
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: (215) 955-6300
Published: 2/3/2010