Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2014; 20(11): 3018-3024
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.3018
Midkine promotes perineural invasion in human pancreatic cancer
Jun Yao, Wen-Yao Li, Shuo-Guo Li, Xiao-Shan Feng, She-Gan Gao
Jun Yao, Wen-Yao Li, Shuo-Guo Li, Xiao-Shan Feng, She-Gan Gao, Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Yao J and Li WY contributed equally to this work; Yao J, Li SG and Feng XS designed the research; Yao J and Li WY performed the research; Gao SG provided some reagents; Yao J and Li WY analyzed data and wrote the paper.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. U1204819; the Health Science and Technology Innovation Talents Program of Henan Province, No. 4203
Correspondence to: Xiao-Shan Feng, PhD, MD, Professor, Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Science and Technology, King Wah Road 24, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China. yaojun74@163.com
Telephone: +86-379-64815783 Fax: +86-379-64815783
Received: September 16, 2013
Revised: November 14, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Midkine (MK) has diverse biological properties, including neuritis outgrowth and tumor progression. Syndecan-3 is a high-affinity receptor for MK and an essential component for neurite outgrowths. MK and its receptor may play an important role during perineural invasion. In this study, MK and syndecan-3 proteins levels were detected and analyzed for correlations with clinicopathological features, perineural invasion, and prognosis. Our results show that high expression of MK contributes to the highly perineural invasion and poor prognosis of human pancreatic cancer.