Pleiotrophin expression in human pancreatic cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological features, perineural invasion, and prognosis.
Pleiotrophin (PTN), a heparin-binding growth factor also known as neurite growth-promoting factor, exhibits several properties related with tumor development. PTN and its receptor, N-syndecan, may play a very important role in tumor growth and neural invasion of pancreatic cancer. We investigated PTN and N-syndecan protein levels in 38 patients with pancreatic cancer by immunohistochemistry, and analyzed for its correlation with clinicopathological features, perineural invasion, and prognosis. The results showed that PTN and N-syndecan proteins were found in 24 (63.2%) and 22 (57.9%) specimens, respectively. PTN and N-syndecan expressions were associated with perineural invasion (P = 0.016 and P = 0.029, respectively). High PTN expression was closely related to an advanced TNM stage (P = 0.007), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.040), and decreased postoperative survival at 3 years (50.0% versus 20.8%, respectively; P = 0.001). We conclude that high expression of PTN combined with N-syndecan may contribute to the increased perineural invasion and poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer.
Yao
Jun
J
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
Ma
Qingyong
Q
Wang
Liancai
L
Zhang
Min
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D053670:Syndecan-3 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D053670:Syndecan-3; C066845:pleiotrophin