[Expression of B7-H1 protein in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues and its clinical significance].

Background and objective: B7-H1, a member of B7 family, is expressed in tumor cells and has emerged as an important immune modulator capable of suppressing host immunity by inhibiting T cells function. This study was to probe into the correlation between the expression level of B7-H1 protein in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

Methods: The expression of B7-H1 was measured in 40 cases of pancreatic carcinoma tissues and 10 cases of normal corresponding paracarcinoma tissues by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression level of B7-H1 and clinicopathological characteristics and survival was analyzed.

Results: The positive rate of B7-H1 was significantly higher in the tumor tissues [45.00% (18/40)] than in the normal corresponding paracarcinoma tissues [0(0/10)] (P<0.05); moreover, B7-H1 expression was significantly associated with the staging of tumor and preoperative serum CA19-9 level (P<0.05). The multivariate cox proportional hazards regression analysis of prognostic factors for overall survival and relapse-free survival showed that the expression of B7-H1 was an independent factor for poor prognosis.

Conclusion: B7-H1 protein was expressed in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues, and was associated with the prognosis.