Expression of Death Associated Proteins DAP1 and DAP3 in Human Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Death associated proteins (DAPs) are involved in the apoptosis of various cell types in response to interferon gamma, including cancer cells. The present study assessed both DAP1 and DAP3 in human pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: DAP1 and DAP3 transcripts were quantitatively analysed in pancreatic tumour tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues using real time PCR followed by statistical analyses for their clinical implications. Results: Levels of DAP3 transcripts in pancreatic cancer were markedly higher than in normal tissues, whereas DAP1 had lower levels in cancer versus normal tissues. Adenocarcinomas showed higher levels of DAP3 than other histological types. Patients with high levels of DAP3 had a significantly shorter overall survival than those with low levels (p=0.012). The status of DAP3 and lymph node involvement identified patients with poor survival (p<0.00001). Conclusion: DAP3 was highly expressed in pancreatic tumour tissues and was significantly associated with shorter survival.