Pancreatic cancers frequently have defects in components of the transforming 
growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway. TIEG1 (TGF-beta inducible early 
gene) is a recently characterized transcription factor regulated by TGF-beta 
that induces apoptosis when overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell 
lines. Alterations on chromosome 8q, where TIEG1 is located, are also relatively 
frequent in pancreatic cancers. To determine if TIEG1 may be involved in the 
tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer, we performed mutational screening of this 
gene in 22 pancreatic cancer cell lines. No sequence alterations were observed. 
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was also performed to 
rule out the possibility that the expression of the gene is altered by genetic 
events other than mutation. Likewise, no alterations in expression were found. 
Thus, an essential role of TIEG1 in pancreatic cancer can be excluded.