[mRNA expression of GLI1 in pancreatic carcinoma and clinical significance thereof].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mRNA expression of GLI1, a transcription regulator of Hedgehog signaling pathway, in human pancreatic carcinoma and to explore its clinical significance. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of GLI1 in the tumor tissues, tissues near tumor, and normal tissues obtained during operation from 25 pancreatic carcinoma patients. RESULTS: The GLI1 mRNA expression rate of the tumor tissues was 68.0% (17/25), significantly higher than those of the tissues near tumor, and normal tissues [24.0% (6/25) and 0 (0/25) respectively, both P < 0.01]. The GLI1 mRNA expression rate was significantly associated with the differentiation degree of tumor tissue (P = 0.014), and not significantly associated with the tumor size, invasion, and metastasis (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: GLI1 mRNA expression is strong in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and is significantly associated with the differentiation degree of tumor tissue. With diagnostic implication, GLI1 mRNA expression may be regarded as a parameter of determining the degree of malignancy and prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma.