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Abstract

Detection of pancreatic cancer using a survivin molecular beacon probe. In a study by Lily Yang et al. frozen sections from normal or pancreatic cancer tissues were incubated with the survivin molecular beacon (shown) or a survivin antibody (see paper in this issue of Cancer Biology and Therapy) and slides were examined under a fluorescence microscope. The survivin beacon detected a high level of survivin mRNA in pancreatic cancer cells but not in normal pancreatic tissues. Immunofluorescence labeling with survivin antibody further confirmed the presence of survivin protein in the pancreatic cancer cells. Other molecular beacons were developed and used to detect mutant ras expression.