Figure 9

Copy numbers of ACVR1B and SMAD4 genes, immunostaining of p21, and Kaplan-Meier curves for PFS and OS in PC clinical samples. (A) The copy numbers were analyzed using TaqMan copy number assays. Copy number of the ACVR1B gene. Six samples (6/29, 20.7%) had a copy number of less than 0.5 (deletion). Copy number of the SMAD4 gene. Ten samples (10/29, 34.5%) had a copy number of less than 0.5 (deletion). (B) Immunostaining of p21. The expressions of p21 were clearly elevated in the cancer cells of patients with wild-type ACVR1B and SMAD4 genes, compared with the expression levels in those of patients with a homozygous deletion of the ACVR1B gene. WT, wild-type; hDEL, homozygous deletion. (C) Kaplan-Meier curves for PFS and OS. Among 21 patients who received chemotherapy, no significant differences in PFS or OS were seen between the patients without a homozygous deletion of the ACVR1B gene and those with such a deletion (median PFS, 252 days vs. 167 days, P = 0.89, and median OS, 344 days vs. 215 days, P = 0.66, respectively).