title: Maspin expression in adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: relation with clinicopathological parameters and apoptosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maspin is a unique serine proteinase inhibitor which has tumor suppressor activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of maspin in ampullary adenocarcinomas, its correlation with apoptosis and its value as a prognostic marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three cases of ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma were collected from archival material. For each sample, maspin, M30, p53 and Mib1 immunohistochemical reactivity were evaluated and results compared with clinicopathological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistical relation was found between nuclear maspin and M30 (Spearman's Q = 0.46, p = 0.02), and p53 (Kruskal-Wallis = 0.03); a trend was found between nuclear maspin and pT (Kruskal-Wallis = 0.09), and pM (Mann-Whitney = 0.08) and pN status (Fisher's mid-point test: p = 0.070).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study evaluated the role of maspin in ampullary adenocarcinomas and for the first time demonstrated its association with apoptosis, tumor growth and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Medico-Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 61, 35121 Padova, Italy. stella.blandamura@unipd.it
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blandamura
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guzzardo
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moschino
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parenti
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ninfo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53