title: Mast cells density positive to tryptase correlates with angiogenesis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients having undergone surgery.
abstract: Background. Literature data suggest that cells such as mast cells (MCs), are involved in angiogenesis. MCs can stimulate angiogenesis by releasing of several proangiogenic cytokines stored in their cytoplasm. In particular MCs can release tryptase, a potent in vivo and in vitro proangiogenic factor. Nevertheless few data are available concerning the role of MCs positive to tryptase in primary pancreatic cancer angiogenesis. This study analyzed MCs and angiogenesis in primary tumour tissue from patients affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Method. A series of 31 PDAC patients with stage T2-3N0-1M0 (by AJCC for Pancreas Cancer Staging 7th Edition) was selected and then underwent surgery. Tumour tissue samples were evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry and image analysis methods in terms of number of MCs positive to tryptase (MCDPT), area occupied by MCs positive to tryptase (MCAPT), microvascular density (MVD), and endothelial area (EA). The above parameters were related to each other and to the main clinicopathological features. Results. A significant correlation between MCDPT, MCAPT, MVD, and EA group was found by Pearson's t-test analysis (r ranged from 0.69 to 0.81; P value ranged from 0.001 to 0.003). No other significant correlation was found. Conclusion. Our pilot data suggest that MCs positive to tryptase may play a role in PDAC angiogenesis and they could be further evaluated as a novel tumour biomarker and as a target of antiangiogenic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy ; Surgery Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8043-6100
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammendola
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, Clinical Surgery Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.affiliation: Health Science Department, Pathology Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.affiliation: Health Science Department, Pathology Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zuccalà
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, Cardiovascular Disease Unit, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia" Medical School, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luposella
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patruno
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marech
authors.affiliation: Surgery Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Severino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pathology, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zizzo
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Cosmo Damiano
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gadaleta
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology Unit with Integrated Section of Translational Medical Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, Giovanni Paolo II, 70100 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8779-1957
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranieri