Maspin expression in adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: relation with clinicopathological parameters and apoptosis.
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.
Blandamura
Stella
S
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
D'Alessandro
Emiliano
E
Guzzardo
Vincenza
V
Giacomelli
Luciano
L
Moschino
Paolo
P
Parenti
Anna
A
Ninfo
Vito
V
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53