Expression of epidermal growth factors and apoptosis markers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Epidermal growth factor family members: EGF, EGFR and the c-erbB-2(HER-2/neu) are involved in the growth of pancreatic ductal carcinoma, its invasiveness and metastases. Similarly, proteins regulating apoptosis can influence the development of pancreatic cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the expressions of EGF, EGFR, c-erbB-2, Bax and Bcl-xL in comparison with anatomo-clinical parameters. We also analyzed the relationship between the epidermal growth factors and apoptosis-regulating proteins.


METHODS
The levels of these proteins were determined immunohistochemically in 29 pancreatic ductal carcinoma cases.


RESULTS
We found no correlation of EGF, EGFR, c-erbB-2, Bax and Bcl-xL with age and gender of patients, or histological type and grade of malignancy (G). However, we observed a very strong correlation between EGF, EGFR, Bax, Bcl-xL and lymph node metastases (p=0.000, p=0.001, p=0.008, p=0.012, respectively) and between EGF, EGFR and distant metastases (p=0.002, p=0.008, respectively). Moreover, we found a correlation between Bcl-xL and c-erbB-2 (p=0.030) and between EGF and Bax (p=0.041).


CONCLUSIONS
These investigations seem to suggest that both epidermal growth factors (EGF, EGFR) and apoptosis-regulating proteins (Bax and Bcl-xL) play an essential role in lymph node involvement. Moreover EGF and EGFR are involved in distant metastases. The apoptosis markers appear to cooperate with epidermal growth factor proteins in the process of tumor spread.
Pryczynicz
Anna
A
Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
Guzińska-Ustymowicz
Katarzyna
K
Czyzewska
Jolanta
J
Kemona
Andrzej
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors