Functional expression of TWEAK in human colonic adenocarcinoma cells

The TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) can induce diverse cellular responses, including cell death, inflammation, migration, and proliferation in various transformed cell lines. We investigated TWEAK sensitivity, TWEAK effects on nuclear factor-kappaB activation, and expression of TWEAK in the HT-29, LS180, SK-CO-1 and SW480 human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines, all of which express the TWEAK receptor (Fn14). TWEAK alone induced cell death in SW480 cells and induced cell death of HT-29 cells after addition of IFN-gamma, actinomycin D or cycloheximide. TWEAK did not affect cell viability of LS-180 or SK-CO-1 cells. Activation of NF-kappaB was not obviously influenced by TWEAK in any of the cell lines. All four human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines constitutively expressed TWEAK mRNA, protein and membrane-bound TWEAK antigen, as detected by RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. Stimulation by an anticancer drug (camptothecin) augmented cell surface expression of TWEAK and all human colonic adenocarcinoma tissue samples studied (n=59) demonstrated positive staining for TWEAK antigen. Soluble TWEAK was detected in culture medium of these cell lines by ELISA and conditioned medium from SW480 cells incubated with anti-TWEAK antibody significantly inhibited endothelial cell tube formation in Matrigels. Thus, functional expression of TWEAK from human colonic adenocarcinoma cells may contribute to neovascularization.     

Increased expression of the Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase in human colonic adenocarcinoma.

Proteolytic enzymes, such as type IV collagenase, play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. To examine Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase expression in human colon carcinoma, blot hybridization of total RNA from 19 primary colon tumors were performed. These filters were probed with complementary DNA probes encoding the Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase metalloenzyme. The results were expressed as the ratio of the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the tumor tissue to that in the adjacent normal mucosa (R). The level of the 3.1-kilobase type IV collagenase mRNA was higher in the primary tumor than in the normal adjacent colonic mucosa in 13 of 18 (72%) cases with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. These cases were divided into high expression (R, 4.50 to 29.34) and intermediate expression (R, 2.54 to 3.31) subgroups. Both groups showed statistically significant (P less than 0.05) elevations when compared with the five cases showing the lowest levels of Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase mRNA expression (low expression subgroup; R, 0.96 to 1.48). With this demonstrated elevation of Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase mRNA in colorectal adenocarcinoma we examined concomitant expression at the protein level using immunohistochemical techniques. Immunohistochemical examination of 70 cases of colon tumors, including 30 benign adenomas, using anti-Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase antibodies demonstrated a significant correlation with Duke's classification (P less than 0.001). Our results suggest that enhanced expression of the Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase enzyme may be a marker of human colorectal tumor invasiveness.     

Serum CEA levels in a human colonic adenocarcinoma (LOVO) xenograft system

The relationship between tumor size and circulating CEA titers was examined for a human colonic adenocarcinoma xenografted in $\text{Balb}\text{C}$ athymic mice. Xenograft material was derived from line LoVo, which produces moderate amounts of CEA, both in vitro and in vivo. No correlation was found between tumor size and serum CEA levels.     

结肠癌中热休克蛋白70和糖调节蛋白94的表达与临床病理的关系

目的:探讨热休克蛋白70(HSP70)和糖调节蛋白94(grp94)在人结肠癌组织中的表达与临床病理的关系。方法:应用免疫组织化学和病理学图像分析方法研究80例人结肠癌组织及其癌旁组织、发生及未发生转移的癌组织中HSP70和grp94的表达。结果:在结肠癌组织中HSP70和grp94的表达明显高于癌旁组织(92.5%,85.0%VS56.3%,42.5%,P<0.01)。HSP70和grp94在中度和低度分化的结肠癌组织中的表达率明显高于癌旁组织(93.7%,87.5%;100%,90.0%VS56.3%,42.5%;P<0.01)。HSP70和grp94在DukesC期(97.1%,91.2%)和D分期(100%,90.9%)的表达比DukesA期(80.0%,70.0%)和B期(78.6%,71.4%)的癌组织阳性表达率高(P<0.05)。结论:HSP70和grp94在发生转移的低分化结肠癌组织和未发生转移的高分化癌组织中表达存在明显不同,它们的高表达可以作为结肠癌的诊断或预后指标。     

High expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in macrophages of human colonic adenoma.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is a possible molecular target for suppression of colon carcinogenesis by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the expression of COX-2 in human colonic tumors during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence has not been elucidated. In the present study, we examined immuno-histochemically the expression and localization of the COX-2 protein in human colonic adenomas and cancers. Twelve human colonic adenomas and 9 advanced cancers were studied. Immunoreactive COX-2 was predominantly and strongly expressed in sub-epithelial interstitial cells broadly present in the surface area of adenomas. The staining pattern of macrophages was similar to that observed for COX-2 in adenomas. Adjacent normal colonic mucosa was negative for COX-2 expression. In contrast, COX-2 was relatively weakly expressed in both tumor cells and interstitial cells in advanced colon cancers. In conclusion, the target of NSAIDs in preventing colon carcinogenesis may be the COX-2 expressed in interstitial cells, possibly macrophages, of colonic adenomas.     

Glycosyltransferase changes upon differentiation of CaCo-2 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells

The spontaneous differentiation of CaCo-2 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells to enterocytes in culture is associated with a decrease in polylactosaminoglycans, particularly those attached to the lysosomal membrane glycoprotein h-lamp-1 (Youakim et al., Cancer Res., 49:6889-6895, 1989). To elucidate the biosynthetic mechanisms leading to these alterations we have compared glycosyltransferase activities that are involved in the synthesis of polylactosaminoglycans and of the N- and O-glycan structures that provide the framework for the attachment of these chains. Glycosyltransferase activities in cell homogenates obtained from undifferentiated and differentiated CaCo-2 cells were assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography separation of enzyme products. The beta-galactosidase activities and extremely high pyrophosphatase activities in differentiated cells were effectively inhibited by 5 mM gamma-galactonolactone and 10 mM AMP, respectively. CaCo-2 cells contain most of the enzymes that are involved in N-glycan branching [N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferases I to V] with the exception of GlcNAc transferase VI. The levels of GlcNAc transferase I activities were comparable in undifferentiated and differentiated cells, but GlcNAc transferase II to V activities were significantly increased upon differentiation. The enzyme activities that are directly involved in the synthesis of linear polylactosaminoglycans (Gal beta 4GlcNAc beta 3- repeating units), blood group i UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta-R beta 3-GlcNAc transferase and UDP-Gal:GlcNAc beta 4-Gal transferase, were found at similar levels in undifferentiated and differentiated CaCo-2 cells. Since GlcNAc transferase III activity is known to inhibit further branching and galactosylation, these results suggest that its increased activity in differentiated CaCo-2 cells may be partly responsible for the decreased synthesis of fucosylated polylactosaminoglycans. Differentiated cells showed a 2-fold increase in O-glycan core 2 UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 3GalNAc alpha-R [GlcNAc to N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)] beta 6-GlcNAc transferase activity. In contrast, O-glycan core 1 UDP-Gal:GalNAc alpha-R beta 3-Gal transferase activity was found decreased. Several enzymes that are found in homogenates from normal human colonic tissue are absent or barely detectable in CaCo-2 cells. These include blood group I UDP-GlcNAc:GlcNAc beta 3Gal beta-R (GlcNAc to Gal) beta 6-GlcNAc transferase, O-glycan core 3 UDP-GlcNAc:GalNAc alpha-R beta 3 GlcNAc transferase and O-glycan core 4 UDP-GlcNAc:GlcNAc beta 3GalNAc-R (GlcNAc to GalNAc) beta 6-GlcNAc transferase.     

Clinical significance of ST3Gal IV expression in human renal cell carcinoma

Alteration of sialyltransferase expression has been implicated in carcinogenesis. Out of sialyltransferases cloned to date, we focused on ST3Gal IV expression in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Levels of ST3Gal IV mRNA were examined in human RCC in comparison with non-tumor kidney. ST3Gal IV cDNA obtained by polymerase chain reaction from cDNA library of human RCC cell line ACHN was identical to STZ in nucleotide sequence. Northern blot analysis was performed for 24 non-tumor kidney and 25 primary RCC tissues, and 5 metastases. ST3Gal IV mRNA level was decreased in 16 cases of 22 primary RCC tissues compared to 21 non-tumor kidney tissues. The mRNA level was low in 4 and equivocal in one, of 5 metastases. The 6 cases that possessed almost the same levels of ST3Gal IV mRNA in primary tumor tissues as those in non-tumor kidneys showed favorable prognoses, as assessed by Kaplan-Meier curve. These results indicate that down-regulation of ST3Gal IV mRNA may be one of the factors associated with the malignant progression of human RCC.     

Significance of p-STAT3 expression in human colorectal adenocarcinoma

To examine the relationship between p-STAT3 and the clinicopathological parameters of colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA), we initially conducted immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses on formalin-fixed tissues. A total of 127 invasive CRA, 20 colorectal adenomas and 20 normal mucosae were obtained. To clarify the validity of p-STAT3 as determined by the IHC analysis, quantitative real-time PCR was performed on fresh samples from 51 CRA-4 carcinomas in situ, 47 invasive CRA and on 51 normal mucosae. IHC analyses were conducted after formalin fixation from 51 CRA for comparison. The statistically significant difference of immunoreactivity for p-STAT3 between the CRA and adenoma, and between the CRA and normal mucosae was identified. Among the 174 CRA, p-STAT3 immunoreactivity significantly correlated with the T- and clinical stage. Among the 47 invasive CRA, the expression of STAT3 as determined by real-time PCR significantly correlated with tumor size, M stage and clinical stage. The overall findings of the real-time PCR analyses correlated with the findings of the IHC analyses. These findings suggest that p-STAT3 expression has an important role related to the tumorigenesis and tumor progression of CRAs. Moreover, IHC analysis is a reliable and useful modality of assessing the status of p-STAT3 expression in formalin-fixed samples.     

Specific expression of tenascin in human colonic neoplasms.

Tenascin, a novel six-armed extracellular matrix glycoprotein, was immunohistochemically examined in the human normal adult colon, and colonic neoplasms such as tubular adenomas, primary and metastatic adenocarcinomas. In contrast to previous reports, tenascin was hardly detectable in the normal adult colons, being predominantly localised in the fibrous stroma surrounding the glandular epithelia of the neoplastic lesions. The neoplastic cells themselves were totally negative for tenascin expression. Both the tubular adenoma tissues and the superficial layer of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas in general were intensely reactive to tenascin antibody, and the staining intensity increased as the adenoma became more atypical in cases of tubular adenomas. By pretreatment of the paraffin-embedded tissue sections with pepsin, the distribution of tenascin was often intensified considerably and distinct localisation was more clearly demonstrated in the colonic tumour tissues. Tenascin was also biochemically purified from human invasive colonic carcinomas, and this cancerous tissue tenascin was compared with that extracted from a human umbilical cord fibroblast cell line in terms of molecular heterogeneity. Two major isoforms of the purified tenascin from colonic cancer tissues were found to have relative molecular masses of 250 kD and 190 kD, which were almost identical to those of human foetal fibroblast tenascin glycoproteins. In addition, several lower molecular weight isoforms were frequently detectable in the cancerous tissues, which might represent immuno-reactive tenascin isoforms proteolytically digested in human colonic carcinomas in vivo.     

Increased cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression occurs frequently in precursor lesions of human adenocarcinoma of the lung

A low incidence of lung carcinoma has been reported in cases of prolonged use of aspirin. Cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 expression is frequently seen in adenocarcinoma of the lung, but COX-2 expression in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), a possible precursor lesion of adenocarcinoma of the lung, is not known. COX-2 expression was immunohistochemically evaluated in a cohort of 20 cuboidal cell hyperplasias (CCH), 81 atypical adenomatous hyperplasias (AAH), 18 bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (BAC), and 88 invasive adenocarcinomas (I-Ad). The relationship between COX-2 expression and clinicopathologic factors and survival was examined. COX-2 overexpression was detected in over 80% of CCH, AAH, BAC, and I-Ad. However, overexpression was diffuse in AAH (71.6%) and BAC (66.7%). No relationship was found between COX-2 expression and clinicopathological factors or survival. COX-2 expression was most frequently detected in AAH. These findings, taken with previous reports that treatment with COX-2 inhibitor suppresses human colon carcinogenesis, suggest that inhibition of COX-2 may reduce the incidence of human adenocarcinoma of the lung.     

Karyometric marker features in normal-appearing glands adjacent to human colonic adenocarcinoma.

The expression of nuclear marker features in normal-appearing tissue adjacent to colonic adenocarcinoma was investigated. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of colon from 9 patients with adenocarcinoma and from 9 normal controls were cut 4 microns thick, Feulgen stained, and measured by a cell image analysis system using a Matrox MVP-AT/NP imaging board. Thirty nuclei in the tumor region, 30 nuclei 2 mm into the histologically normal-appearing distal margin, and the same number at 5, 10, 20, and 50 mm into the margin were measured for each patient. An additional 30 nuclei were recorded from 9 patients each free from colonic disease. Nuclear features were selected to discriminate between tumor nuclei and nuclei from normal control subjects and between nuclei measured in the histologically normal-appearing margin next to the tumor and control nuclei. Eight micromorphometric measures were found to be statistically significantly different in nuclei measured in the margin site, including features describing staining density (total absorbance, average absorbance 20% below mean, average absorbance 20% above mean) chromatin texture (cooccurrence matrix, run length, and peripheral tendency) and nuclear area. The category differences are statistically highly significant.     

Reduced expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL2) in ovarian adenocarcinoma

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL2) is a chemoattractant and activator of macrophages and is a key determinant of the macrophage infiltrate into tumours. We demonstrate here that CCL2 is expressed in normal human ovarian surface epithelium (HOSE) cells and is silenced in most ovarian cancer cell lines, and silenced or downregulated in the majority of primary ovarian adenocarcinomas. Analysis of the CCL2 locus at 17q11.2-q12 showed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 70% of primary tumours, and this was significantly more common in tumours of advanced stage or grade. However, we did not detect any mutations in the CCL2 coding sequence in 94 primary ovarian adenocarcinomas. These data support the hypothesis that CCL2 may play a role in the pathobiology of ovarian cancers, but additional studies will be required to evaluate this possibility.     

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) expression in adenocarcinoma pleural effusions

Serous effusions are frequently a clinical manifestation of metastatic disease, with lung, breast and ovarian carcinoma and mesothelioma leading the list. The diagnosis of malignant effusion signifies disease progression and is associated with a worsening patient prognosis. The ability to grow in a dense exudative fluid suggests that the malignant cells are capable of acquiring nutrients, surviving and proliferating, despite the lack of a solid-phase scaffold. During proliferation, neoplastic cells release ligands and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) into their environment, which dissolve the extracellular matrix (ECM). Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) are endogenous regulators of MMPs, the principal enzymes responsible for the degradation of ECM in metastasis, and reduce their proteolytic activity. TIMP-2 has demonstrated an association between high tumor tissue expression levels and poor prognosis. The purpose of this preliminary study is to investigate, by immunocytochemistry, TIMP-2 expression in non-neoplastic and metastatic adenocarcinoma pleural effusions. We selected 16 cases of reactive mesothelio, 7 of normal mesothelio, 14 of lung adenocarcinoma, 9 from the ovary, 4 from the gastrointestinal tract and 3 from the breast. In 23/30 cases (76%), we detected adenocarcinoma cells with strong TIMP-2 expression. Positive TIMP-2 expression was found in 2/7 cases (28%) of normal and 2/16 (12%) of reactive mesothelio. A statistical association was detected between TIMP-2 expression and metastatic adenocarcinoma cells compared to reactive and normal mesothelial cells (p<0.00003). The calculated sensitivities for TIMP-2 compared to CEA and Ber-EP4 were, respectively, 76.7, 80.0 and 93.3%, and the specificities 82.6, 95.7 and 87.0%. In conclusion, immunocytochemical detection of TIMP-2 could be considered an interesting marker in metastatic adenocarcinoma pleural effusions, and could possibly be used as a component of an antibody panel in diagnostic cytopathology.     

环氧合酶-2 mRNA在胃腺癌组织中表达的实验研究

目的探讨环氧合酶-2(COX-2)mRNA在胃腺癌组织及癌旁的正常胃粘膜组织中的表达及其意义.方法应用半定量逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测胃腺癌组织及病灶旁的正常胃粘膜组织中COX-2 mRNA的表达水平.应用Molecular Analyst软件定量分析RT-PCR产物电泳带,COX-2指数由COX-2和β-actin条带的积分吸光度值的比值来确定.COX-2指数大说明组织中COX-2 mRNA的表达水平高.结果胃腺癌组织的COX-2指数明显高于正常胃粘膜(P＜0.01).有淋巴结转移的胃癌组织COX-2指数显著高于无淋巴结转移者(P＜0.01);Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期的COX-2指数分别明显高于Ⅰ期及Ⅱ期(P＜0.05及P＜0.05).癌组织中COX-2 mRNA的表达水平与肿瘤的Borrmann分型、肿瘤浸润深度、分化程度、有无远处转移及肿瘤长径间无相关性(P＞0.05).结论 COX-2 mRNA的表达水平在胃腺癌组织中明显增高;其高表达与淋巴转移及临床TNM分期相关.     

Down-regulation of protein and mRNA expression for transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1) type I and type II receptors in human prostate cancer

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1) is a potent negative regulator of cell growth that transduces signals through interactions with type I and II receptors. Abnormal expression and mutational alterations of these receptors have been observed in several human malignancies. In this study, we investigated the expression of the two types of TGF-βI receptors, R-I and R-II, in a normal human prostate, primary prostate adenocarcinoma and lymph nodes with metastatic deposits. Expression of receptor proteins was examined by immunohistochemical analysis in paraffin-embedded prostatic tissue sections, and mRNA expression was determined by Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis. Uniformly strong immunoreactivity for both TGF-β receptor proteins, R-I and R-II, was exclusively localized to the prostatic glandular epithelium of normal prostates. In contrast, tumor epithelial cells in primary and metastatic prostatic cancer specimens exhibited a weak heterogeneous immunoreactivity for both R-I and R-II receptors; 25% of primary prostatic tumors and 45% of the lymph nodes with metastases were totally negative for R-I and R-II expression, while the rest exhibited a significantly reduced immunoreactivity for both types of receptors compared to the normal prostate (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the expression of R-I and R-II mRNA, in all 20 primary prostatic tumors and 4 lymph nodes positive for metastases, indicating that the decreased protein expression was due to down-regulation of gene expression for the two receptors. Our findings imply that decreased expression of TGF-βI type I and type II receptors might be involved in prostate tumorigenesis. Int. J. Cancer 71:573-579, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

ABH blood group antigen expression, synthesis, and degradation in human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines

The synthesis of blood group ABH antigens is under genetic control, where the primary gene products are glycosyltransferases. Several studies have demonstrated cancer-associated alterations in ABH antigen expression in human colon cancer tissues. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for these alterations has not been elucidated. Therefore, experiments were conducted using nine established colon cancer cell lines (four type O, three type A, and two type B) to examine ABH antigen expression by immunocytochemistry and correlate this with activities of ABH biosynthetic (glycosyltransferase) and degradative (glycosidase) enzymes. The products of the glycosyltransferase enzymes were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography and paper chromatography, and substrate affinities (apparent Km values) of the cancer cell-derived glycosyltransferases were analyzed. The present data demonstrate: (a) all cell lines except H-498 (blood type A) expressed the appropriate ABH glycosyltransferase as well as all three glycosidases; (b) product characterization and substrate dependence experiments suggested that the cancer cell-derived ABH glycosyltransferase enzymes had properties that were similar to those of the ABH enzymes in human serum; (c) H-498 cells exhibited A antigen deletion with accumulation of H precursor substance, most likely due to insufficient A transferase activity; (d) SW1417 cells (blood type B) demonstrated B antigen deletion without precursor accumulation, despite adequate levels of B transferase and low alpha-galactosidase activity; and (e) weak incompatible A antigen expression occurred in LoVo (type B) and SW1116 (type O) cells, and weak incompatible B antigen expression occurred in H-498 (type A) and SW1116 cells. However, since these cells lacked incompatible A or B transferase activity, these incompatible antigens are probably not the true A or B antigens. Thus, the colon cancer cell lines used in this study exhibit all of the ABH alterations previously described in colon cancer tissues and appear to be useful experimental models for studying the molecular events involved in cancer-associated ABH expression.     

Human IgG3 monoclonal antibody directed to an unbranched repeating type 2 chain (Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----R) which is highly expressed in colonic and hepatocellular carcinoma

Previously established human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed to carbohydrate antigens are essentially all IgM class, and show relatively low affinity and low reactivity at 37 degrees C. We report here the establishment of a human IgG3 MAb displaying high affinity antigen-binding activity at 37 degrees C and efficiently activating cellular cytotoxicity directed to human tumor cell lines expressing the polylactosamine antigen. The IgG3 MAb (MH21-134) reacted with the repeated unbranched polylactosamine structure Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----R, i.e., nLc6, nLc8, etc., but did not react with sialyl 2----3 or 2----6 substituted derivatives at the terminal Gal. This specificity differs from that of several anti-i antibodies, or human anti-i-like MAbs which react with sialyl 2----3 substituted structures. Directly biotinylated MH21-134 antibody was used in immunohistochemical staining of 154 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections to study distribution of the antigen. High incidence of positive staining was found in colon cancer (11/17; 65%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (8/12; 67%), followed by large cell and squamous cell carcinoma of lung cancer (10/13; 59%, and 14/26; 54%, respectively). TLC immunostaining of glycolipid extracts from a variety of tumor tissues showed the presence of nLc6 and/or nLc8 in over 50% of cases. The antigens nLc6 and nLc8 were found to be absent from normal colonic epithelia, kidney, and pancreas. Only a weak band corresponding to nLc8 and one corresponding to nLc6 were found in liver and spleen, although all these normal tissues, including gastrointestinal epithelia, lung, liver, spleen, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes, were essentially negative on immunohistology. However, the antigen was found to be highly expressed in myelocytes and weakly in bronchial glands of lung and pancreatic duct epithelia. Nevertheless, expression of unsubstituted, unbranched polylactosamine antigen could be an important basis for induction of humoral immune response against certain types of human cancer, despite its limited expression in normal cells.     

Increased glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene expression in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma

To identify and characterize genes, the products of which play a role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, we constructed a complementary DNA (cDNA) library using mRNA from the pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line HPAF, grown as a nude mouse tumor. Through differential screening, we identified a cDNA clone, pII5B, that is homologous to an mRNA expressed at significantly higher levels in HPAF cells than in normal human pancreas. The pII5B cDNA was homologous to the 3'-untranslated region of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, EC 1.2.1.12)mRNA. Partial sequencing of several HPAF tumor GAPDH cDNA clones revealed no significant differences from previously published GAPDH cDNA sequences. Increased levels of GAPDH mRNA, relative to actin mRNA levels, were found in six pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines and two nude mouse tumors, when compared to normal pancreas. Enolase and glucose transporter mRNA levels were also increased in HPAF cells and nude mouse tumor, suggesting a general increase in expression of genes associated with glycolysis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Levels of GAPDH protein were elevated in nude mouse tumors and fresh human pancreatic adenocarcinomas compared to normal pancreas. High GAPDH levels may be characteristic of human adenocarcinomas, since colon adenocarcinomas also exhibited high levels of GAPDH compared to normal colon.