Background: Cyclin D3, one of the D type cyclins, has been known as a cell cycle modulator at the G1-S phase. In the present study, we investigated its expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma in order to elucidate its clinical role.
Materials and methods: We examined cyclin D3 as well as, cyclin D1 overexpression in 60 pancreatic adenocarcinoma by means of immunohistochemistry.
Results: Cyclin D3 overexpression was found in 33.3% (20 cases) of the cases, being more frequently seen in cases showing high Ki-67 labeling index, stage IV, moderate- or poor-differentiation, lymph node metastasis and large size and cyclin D1 overexpression. Multivariate logistic analysis independently linked cyclin D3 overexpression to tumor size (p = 0.0392) and stage (p = 0.0312). Cyclin D1 overexpression was observed in 41.7% (25 cases) and was related to Ki-67 labeling index, cyclin A overexpression, stage, carcinoma differentiation, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion and retropancreatic invasion. It was independently linked to carcinoma differentiation (p = 0.0081), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0426) and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.0269).
Conclusion: These results suggest that cyclin D3, as well as cyclin D1, plays a role in the progression, including cell proliferating activity, of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.