Aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) significantly influences prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) in one of AHR ligands. The aim of this study is to analyze the prognostic influence of AIP in pancreatic carcinoma. Retrospective case series with immunohistochemical analysis of AIP. We have estimated a multivariate Cox's model for the outcome (progression free and overall survival). 204 patients were included in the study. As expected prognosis was poor and 67.8% died of disease. As for AIP 9.8% of the cases showed nuclear staining of the epithelial tumor cells and 59.4% a cytoplasmic one. Stroma was stained in 53.1% of the cases. Univariate survival analysis revealed a significantly worse prognosis of patients with cytoplasmic AIP expression (stroma and epithelium), but nuclear expression was associated to a better prognosis. In the multivariate analysis stromal AIP expression was an independent prognosticator of progression free survival, together with pT stage, histological grade and history of diabetes. AIP Is a conserved cochaperone protein binding to many proteins. AIP has been proposed as a potential tumor suppressor gene. To date, no study has analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of AIP in pancreatic carcinoma. Our results indicate that both epithelial and stromal cytoplasmic expression of AIP is associated to bad prognosis, while nuclear translocation seems to improve prognosis. Although we must deepen into the complex signaling pathways underlying this potential association, our results open a way to inhibiting AHR as a potential target against pancreatic carcinoma. •Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand activated transcription factor, that has been linked to toxicity by several compounds and also to tumorigenesis•One of its ligands aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) is associated to the development of pituitary neoplasms•Cytoplasmic AIP expression in pancreatic carcinoma is associated to bad prognosis, while nuclear translocation is associated to a better outcome