Heat Shock Protein 27 Expression in EUS-FNA Samples Can Predict Gemcitabine Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Gemcitabine (GEM) sensitivity can help select the appropriate treatment for pancreatic cancer. We examined the association between HSP27 expression and GEM sensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer who underwent endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) were enrolled and treated with GEM alone. We measured the expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and phosphorylated HSP27(p-HSP27) in EUS-FNA samples and evaluated the effects of GEM treatment.

RESULTS: The rate of GEM resistance was significantly higher in patients who showed overexpression of p-HSP27 (p<0.05). When we set the cut-off p-HSP27 (Ser82) detection rate at 51.6%, the group with a detection rate of >51.6% showed a significantly lower survival rate, and GEM was administered for a shorter period of time (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: It was suggested that the HSP27 expression in EUS-FNA samples was useful for predicting GEM sensitivity.