Expression of EGF and EGFR strongly correlates with metastasis of pancreatic ductal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The epidermal growth factor family members: EGF, EGFR and the c-erbB-2(HER-2/neu) gene product have been found to play a role in carcinomas of the stomach, liver, breast, ovary and lungs. Recent reports have indicated that they are also involved in the growth of pancreatic ductal carcinoma, its invasiveness and metastasis.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma were analysed with respect to sex, age, histological type, malignancy grade (G), pTN status (pTN), local lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. The tumor levels of EGF, EGFR and c-erbB-2 expression were determined immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
Expression of c-erbB-2 was observed in 24/36 cases, EGF in 13/36 cases and EGFR in 18/36 cases. Overexpression of EGF and EGFR was associated with metastasis to lymph nodes and other organs. A correlation was also found between EGF expression and the presence of EGFR in the tumour. The expression of c-erbB-2 protein was not found to correlate with any parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
EGF and EGFR play a key role in neoplastic spread through lymph node involvement and metastasis to other organs.
Pryczynicz
Anna
A
Departments of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
Guzińska-Ustymowicz
Katarzyna
K
Kemona
Andrzej
A
Czyzewska
Jolanta
J
D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases