Centrosome abnormalities in pancreatic ductal carcinoma

The centrosome plays an important role in microtubule nucleation and organi zation, ensuring the establishment of cell polarity and balanced chromosome segregation. Recent studies have suggested that the loss of cell polarity and/or chromosome missegregation (aneuploidy) in human malignant tumors cou ld result from defects in centrosome function. Using immunofluorescence ana lysis with an antibody to gamma-tubulin (a well-characterized centrosomal c omponent), we examined surgically resected human pancreatic tissues for cen trosome abnormalities. The tissues included ductal carcinomas (n = 13), ade nomas (n = 3), endocrine tumors (n = 3), chronic pancreatitis (n = 5), and normal pancreatic tissues (n = 12), We found that most (85%) carcinomas and some adenomas displayed abnormal centrosome profiles, characterized by an increase in size and number of centrosomes, and by their irregular distribu tion. In contrast, none of normal ductal and stromal tissues showed these a bnormalities. These findings suggest that centrosome abnormalities may deve lop at a relatively early stage of pancreatic ductal carcinogenesis.