Circulating Chromogranin A Is Cleaved Into Vasoregulatory Fragments in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Chromogranin A (CgA), a secretory protein released in the blood by the neuroendocrine system, consists of a mixture of full-length molecules and fragments endowed of vasoregulatory activity. The extent and the role of CgA fragmentation were investigated in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n=172). Multivariate analysis showed that full-length CgA was associated with better progression free and overall survival, whereas CgA C-terminal fragmentation was associated with worse prognosis. In vitro studies showed that PDAC cells can promote the cleavage of CgA C-terminal region by activating plasminogen to plasmin. Limited digestion of full-length CgA with plasmin abolished its anti-angiogenic activity and generated pro-angiogenic molecules. The

SUBMITTER: Reni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7787052 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature