Identification of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase UGT1A3 and UGT1A7 genetic expression in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancers are very important malignities because of their high mortality rates. Thus, it is important to be able to evaluate the cells that will become cancer in future and to know the protective genetic factors. In many studies, it has been shown that UGT1A gene family has protective effects on cancer development. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of UGT1A3 and UGT1A7 gene expression, to search the molecular bases of pancreatic cancer's genetic treatment and to make early diagnose of pancreatic cancers possible before occurrence of any mass in pancreas. This study was performed after the approval of ethical committee, on patients with pancreatic cancer. mRNA and cDNA levels were measured in normal and tumor tissues which were collected intraoperatively. UGT1A and UGT1A7 gene expressions were determined with real time PCR with 2-ΔCt method, we compared expressions rates of this genes with beta-actin's. Thirteen female (%30.2) and 30 male (%69.2) patients were included. Main age was 61.5. Pathological diagnosis of 40 patients was adenocarcinoma. 2-ΔCt value of UGT1A3 gene expression was 0.00512 in normal tissue and 0.00916 in tumor tıssue. UGT1A3 gene expression level was higher in tumor tissues (p<0.05). According to calculation of this findings, 2-ΔCt level of UGT1A7 gene expression was 0.0167 in normal tissues and 0.01858 in tumor tissues. UGT1A7 gene expression level was also statistically higher (p<0.05). Additionally there was a correlation between tumor's size and levels of UGT1A7 and UGT1A3 gene expressions. With this study, it is shown that panreatic tumors have UGT1A7 and UGT1A3 mRNA expression. Upregulation of UGT1A7 and UGT1A3 expressions in tumor tissues was remarkable. According to literature, UGT1A gene family's expression was downregulated in non-pancreatic tumor tissues. Lower measuring of UGT1A7 and UGT1A3 expressions in normal tissues and the proportional increase of UGT1A7 and UGT1A3 expressions in tumor tissues with the size of tumor show us that expressions's increase are not because of enzymatic activities of pancreas but related with cellular changes due to cancer.