Gemcitabine (2’-deoxy-2’-
difluorodeoxycytidine: Gemzar) (GEM) appears to be the only
effective anticancer drug for pancreatic cancer, but it has little
impact on outcome due to a high level of inherent and acquired
tumor resistance. Our previous proteomic study demonstrated
that the expression of three spots of heat-shock protein 27
(HSP27) was increased in GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer cells
and could play a role in determining the sensitivity of pancreatic
cancer to GEM. Materials and Methods and Results: In the
present study, using one-dimensional and two-dimensional
Western blotting, we elucidated that these three spots of HSP27
were phosphorylated in GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer cell
line, KLM1-R. Conclusion: Phosphorylated HSP27 may play an
important role in the resistance to GEM, and it could also be a
possible biomarker for predicting the response of pancreatic
cancer patients to treatment with GEM