CLIC1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas

Clinical significance of chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) remains largely unknown. This study was performed to assess the expression of CLIC1 in benign and malignant pancreatic lesions, and to assess its clinicopathological significance.Tissue samples from resected PDAC (n = 70) and their matched normal pairs were evaluated for CLIC1 expression by immunohistochemical staining. Their expression was correlated with different clinicopathological parameters.CLIC1 expression was significantly higher (67.1%) in PDAC than in adjacent control tissues (25.7%, P < 0.001). High CLIC1 levels were associated with the histological grade (P < 0.001) and tumor size (P < 0.001); but not with sex, age, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor location, or lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that a positive CLIC1 expression was associated with a decreased overall survival (P < 0.01). Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that CLIC1 expression and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for disease-free survival.The expression of CLIC1 might be closely related to the carcinogenesis, clinical biological behaviors, and prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.