ABSTRACT

Tenascin-C (TNC) is an extracellular matrix protein involved in the tissue construction. Its expression levels have been detected low levels in normal tissues, but high in many tumors. In this study, we aimed to determine the clinical significance of serum TNC levels in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA).

Thirty-three patients with histopathologically confirmed PA diagnosis and sex- and age-matched 30 healthy controls were included into the current study. Serum TNC levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) method.

Median age was 59 (range, 32-84). Of the patients, 61% were male, 70% had good performance status, and 68% had tumors localized at pancreas head. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and palliative surgery were performed in 5 (15%) and 4 (12%) of the 9 (27%) patients who underwent surgical procedure. Serum TNC levels were found to be significantly higher in patients compared with control group (p<0.001). A significant correlation between serum TNC levels and clinicopathological parameters including age, gender, performance status, tumor location, tumor size, metastasis, chemotherapy response, and laboratory parameters was not detected (p>0.05). Similarly, it was shown that serum TNC levels had no effect on overall survival (p=0.31).

Serum TNC level is a diagnostic biomarker for patients with PA. However, it has neither predictive nor prognostic value in this group of patients.

Keywords: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, Tenascin-C, diagnosis