Expression of transcription factor genes in cell lines corresponding to different stages of pancreatic cancer progression.

The expression level of six transcription factor genes and the content of their protein products in five pancreatic cancer cell lines with parallel control of expression of three marker genes reflecting epithelial or mesenchymal state of cells was investigated. Cell lines MIA PaCa-2 and Capan-2 represented the best models of quasi-mesenchymal and epithelial, respectively, types of progression of the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, according to the content of E-cadherin and vimentin and the expression of KLF5 and ZEB1 transcription factors.