Prognostic significance of molecular alterations in human pancreatic carcinoma--an immunohistological study.
BACKGROUND
During the last decade, many molecular alterations have been described for pancreatic carcinomas. However, the clinical and prognostic value of these alterations has been discussed and is controversial.


METHODS
An immunohistochemical study was performed in 82 cases of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Using specific antibodies, expression of EGF, EGF-receptor, cERB-B2, p53, p21CIP1, cyclin-D1, BCL-2, CD95 and KI67 was evaluated.


RESULTS
Overexpression of the different molecules was found in 44-69% of the pancreatic carcinomas. With regard to clinico-pathological features, p53 positivity was more frequently found in advanced and undifferentiated tumours (P<0.05), EGF overexpression was significantly more frequent in advanced tumours (P<0.05) and CD95 overexpression was observed to a greater extent in undifferentiated tumours (P<0.05). Besides cyclin-D1, none of the molecules tested was of prognostic significance. Patients whose tumours expressed cyclin-DI lived significantly shorter than patients with cyclin-D1-negative tumours. However, in subgroup analyses of patients with the same tumour stage or tumour grade, even cyclin-D1. expression had no prognostic significance.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that the prognostic significance of the molecules tested here is low. Nevertheless, with regard to tumorigenesis and tumour biology of pancreatic carcinoma, determination of molecular alterations could provide important information about pancreatic cancer.
Gansauge
F
F
Department of General Surgery, University of Ulm, Germany.
Gansauge
S
S
Schmidt
E
E
Müller
J
J
Beger
H G
HG
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000235:genetics*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006133:Growth Substances; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor