ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect changes of serum soluble Apo-1/Fas (sApo-1/Fas) in pancreatic cancer patients and to investigate its clinical value in assessing the effect of chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum level of sApo-1/Fas in 30 normal control subjects and 58 pancreatic cancer patients were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the sApo-1/Fas level of 48 pancreatic cancer patients, before and after chemotherapy was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the level of the control group, the level of serum soluble Apo-1/Fas was significantly correlated with clinical stage but not with age, sex or pathologic type of pancreatic cancer. It was elevated gradually from stage II to IV (P < 0.01). However, it would obviously decrease in pancreatic cancer patients after chemotherapy (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The serum soluble Apo-1/Fas may be involved in the development of pancreatic cancer, and it may be used as one parameter to assess the disease status and prognosis of pancreatic cancer patient.</p>