The role of Tbx2 in pancreatic cancers and its regulation by Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Objective: To investigate the expression of Tbx2 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues and its molecular regulation mechanism by Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Methods: 49 pancreatic cancer and 13 non-cancer tissue specimens were obtained and examined the expression of Tbx2, and the correlation between the expression of Tbx2 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. The immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot assay methods were used to detect the changes of expression levels of β-catenin and Tbx2. Results: Tbx2 was amplified in 34 of 49 pancreatic cancers, and in 13 non-cancer tissues, only one sample amplified. The further study demonstrated that Tbx2 had a significant positive correlation with tumor differentiation degree and clinical stage, but it did not relate to the sex, age and the disease region. Inhibi-tion of β-catenin degradation through the treatment of pancreatic cancer cells SW1990 with different concentrations of lithium chloride indicated that accumulation of β-catenin was sufficient to induce TBX2 expression. Conclusion: TBX2 gene plays an important role in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer and the accumulation of β-catenin contributes to the expression of TBX2. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway participates the regulation of TBX2 in pancreatic cancer cells.