The study was approved by the Ethic Committee of the University of Heidelberg and written informed consent was obtained from the patients. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections (4 μm) were analyzed using the avidin-biotin complex method as previously

described [5]. Prior to Ab incubation, heat pretreatment in an Ag retrieval solution (DAKO Cytomation, Hamburg, Germany; pH 9.0 for neutrophil elastase), respectively, using citrate buffer (pH 6.1 for E-cadherin) was performed. Primary antibodies included a mouse mAb to neutrophil elastase (American Diagnostics, Pfungstadt, Germany, diluted 1:25) and a mouse Fer-1 mAb to E-cadherin which detects the whole 120 kDa and the soluble ectodomain 82 kDa form (DAKO; diluted Idasanutlin 1:30). The immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissue microarrays from 112 PDAC samples. E-cadherin expression was quantified, using the scoring system, previously described by Al-Aynati et al. [42], in which the distribution pattern of E-cadherin expression on tumor cells was quantified as absent (score: 0), focal (10% to <50%; score 1), or diffuse (≥ 50%; score 2). For comparison, healthy pancreas tissue of ten individuals, age and gender matched, were used. Correlation of E-cadherin expression with clinical and pathological parameters was performed

using Spearman’s-Rho analysis; correlation between E-cadherin expression was calculated using Mann–Whitney U-test. The invasion assay was calculated using ANOVA one-way test. For statistical analysis of survival, the nonparametric Log-rank test was performed. Significance levels were defined as p < 0.05. The statistical analyses were carried out with the SPSS software version 18.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, USA). Graphs were made using OriginPro7.5 software (Additive Software, Friedrichsdorf, Germany). We thank Ms. Birgit Prior, Mr. Dieter Stefan, and Dr. Guido Wabnitz, Institute for Immunology, University of Heidelberg and Ms. Sarah Messnard, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg for their excellent technical support. The study was funded by the University of Heidelberg Hospital. The authors declare no financial

or commercial conflict of interest. Disclaimer: Supplementary materials have been peer-reviewed but not copyedited. Table S1. Dyhesion of T3M4 and T3M4 with downmodulated E-cadherin STK38 expression following treatment with either PMN or PMN elastase Table S2. Clinical, pathological parameters and E-cadherin expression of PDAC patients “
“Although various Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been associated with immune response and tumorigenesis in the prostate cells, little is known about the role of TLR7. Accordingly, we examined the expression of TLR7 during tumour progression of TRMAP (transgenic mouse model for prostate cancer) mice and its role on cell growth. Toll-like receptor7 expression was examined by RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.