Copy number of cancer genes predict tumor grade and survival of pancreaticcancer patients

Pancreatic cancer is on the increase. While means of early diagnosis are be ing sought, it continues to present late. Prognostication is based on patie nt and tumor characteristics, including expression or mutation of cancer-re lated genes. Pew studies have examined the impact of the amplification of t hese genes on the outcome of pancreatic cancer: We have now used a non-radi oisotopic slot-blot technique to relate gene copy numbers of p53, c-myc and K-ms to tumor grade and survival. Outcomes were collected for patient char acteristics, tumor location and TNM staging. The Kaplan-Meier test for like lihood of survival showed that increase in copy number of the two oncogenes and loss of p53 were associated with non-significant reduction in survival . When these variations in cancer gene copy numbers were, however examined by logistic regression analysis in the context of patient and tumor charact eristics, survival was negatively related to K-ras amplification (p=0.0291) . Tumor grade, but not survival was positively related to loss of p53 gene copy (p=0.0131) as well as c-myc amplification (p=0.0248). Thus using a sim ple non-radioisotopic technique for the detection of cancer gene copy numbe r in association with patients and disease characteristics, we could predic t survival on the one hand and tumor behavior on the other: Such informatio n could be used to plan initial and follow-up therapy.