Prognostic significance of S100A4 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and calcium-binding protein S100A4 in pancreatic cancer and their relationship to the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Expression status of VEGF and S100A4 was examined in 62 surgical specimens of primary pancreatic cancer by immunohistochemistry. Correlation between the expression of VEGF and S100A4 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.


RESULTS
Thirty-eight of 62 (61.3%) specimens of primary pancreatic cancer were positive for S100A4. Thirty-seven (59.7%) specimens showed positive expression of VEGF. The positive correlation between S100A4 and VEGF expression was significant in cancer tissues (P < 0.001). S100A4 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, TNM stage and poorer prognosis. VEGF expression had a significant correlation with poorer prognosis. The prognosis of 17 S100A4- and VEGF-negative cancer patients was significantly better than that of other patients (P < 0.05). Distant metastasis (P = 0.001), S100A4- (P = 0.008) and VEGF-positive expression (P = 0.016) were significantly independent prognostic predictors (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Over-expression of S100A4 and VEGF plays an important role in the development of pancreatic cancer. Combined examination of the two molecules might be useful in evaluating the outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Ai
Kai-Xing
KX
Department of General Surgery, 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China. akxing8258@sina.com
Lu
Lin-Yuan
LY
Huang
Xin-Yu
XY
Chen
Wei
W
Zhang
Hui-Zhen
HZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C077591:S100A4 protein, human