Objectives: The diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenging in the setting of pancreatitis. We investigated SERPINB5 for its impact on PDAC tumor biology and its use as a diagnostic marker for PDAC in the setting of pancreatitis.
Methods: Patient samples from PDAC primary tumors, PDAC lymph node metastases, and pancreatitis were investigated for SERPINB5 promoter methylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Six PDAC cell lines were investigated in vitro and in vivo using an orthotopic mouse model to generate primary tumors and metastases. SERPINB5 mRNA expression, protein expression, and promoter methylation were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR, methylation-specific PCR, and Western Blot.
Results: In patient samples, detection of an unmethylated SERPINB5 promoter differentiated pancreatitis from PDAC with a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 95% (P < 0.001). SERPINB5 was not deregulated in primary tumors versus metastases, but primary tumors without SERPINB5 protein expression had significantly reduced viability (P = 0.02).
Conclusions: SERPINB5 seems to assume an oncogenic role in PDAC. In clinical samples, detection of unmethylated SERPINB5 was a specific marker for PDAC even in the context of pancreatitis and may provide the basis for a liquid biopsy option to detect PDAC.