Figure 1.

(A) NQO1 expression was increased in pancreatic carcinoma cells when compared to normal human pancreas. Light, uniform staining was observed throughout the normal ductal epithelial cells in specimens of normal human pancreas. In contrast, darker, more irregular staining was observed in pancreatic cancer cells throughout the pancreatic cancer specimen. Additionally, specimens from pancreatic cancer demonstrated significant fibrosis and an increased inflammatory cell component to some of the histological sections. (B) NQO1 expression as evaluated by digital image analysis is increased in pancreatic cancer compared with normal pancreas. Image analysis allowed for semi-quantitative numerical comparisons of staining intensity based on the gray-level value of the digitally acquired sections. Analysis of pancreatic cancer cells demonstrated a significant increase in the mean cytoplasmic gray-level value when compared to pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. Values are expressed as AU, means ± SEM, P < 0.0001 versus normal pancreas.