Background and purpose: Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a growth-related protein

and involves in promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis. A lot of evidence shows there is an overexpression of TCTP in liver cancer

colon cancer and other gastrointestinal tumors. However there is no any evidence about TCTP in pancreatic cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of TCTP in pancreatic carcinogenesis to find new molecular targets and to provide a basis for targeted therapy of pancreatic cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemistry

Western immunoblot analysis

RT-PCR

immunofluorescence analysis

siRNA transfection

cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assays

cell cycle and cell apoptosis analysis were used. Results: TCTP was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cancer cells. Moreover

silencing TCTP expression by siRNA arrested cell cycle progression

promoted cell apoptosis and eventually inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore

Bcl-xL protein expression was positively correlatived with TCTP expression in pancreatic cancer cells

and silencing TCTP downregulated Bcl-xL expression. Conclusion: TCTP is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer

which upregulates Bcl- xL to inhibit cell apoptosis

and eventually promotes pancreatic carcinogenesis.