Adenocarcinoma of duodenum and ampulla of Vater: clinicopathology study and expression of p53, c-neu, TGF-alpha, CEA, and EMA

Poorly cohesive duodenal carcinoma mixed with signet ring cell carcinoma with systemic metastasis: a case report and literature review

Poorly cohesive duodenal carcinoma mixed with signet ring cell carcinoma is very rare, and no cases have been reported. When distant metastasis occurs, it is very easy to be misdiagnosed. We report the first case of a 52-year-old man with poorly cohesive carcinoma of the duodenum mixed with signet ring cell carcinoma with systemic metastasis. The process of its diagnosis and differential diagnosis is highlighted.

Cancer-Derived Transforming Growth Factor-β Modulates Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Ampullary Cancer

Purpose

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) originate from monocytes and differentiate into mature macrophages. The interaction between cancer cells and TAMs promotes tumor growth and suppresses immunosurveillance. However, this phenomenon has seldom been observed in ampullary cancer.

Patients and Methods

TAMs in ampullary cancer were investigated using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of cancer tissues. Bioinformatic analysis of data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database revealed transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling in ampullary cancer. The complementary DNA microarray of cancer was compared with adjacent normal duodenum and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum was used to verify TGF-β signaling in patients. The THP-1 cell line was activated in vitro to imitate M2 TAMs. ClueGo and CluePedia software were operated to simulate TGF-β-related networks in ampullary cancer.

Results

The IHC study revealed that the majority of TAMs inside ampullary cancer were cluster of differentiation (CD)163⁺ cells and that the expression of mature CD68⁺ macrophages was correlated with advanced cancer stage. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that TGF-β and its downstream signaling were significantly upregulated. To verify our bioinformatics-derived predictions, we performed several experiments and demonstrated that increased TGF-β expression was detected in the cDNA microarray. Higher serum levels of TGF-β were correlated with fewer CD68⁺ and more inducible nitric oxide synthase macrophages in ampullary cancer. Treatment with TGF-β induced modulation of THP-1-derived macrophages.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that TGF-β modulates macrophage activity in ampullary cancer. Targeting TGF-β could be an approach to activating immunosurveillance.

Influence of non-jaundice stage at diagnosis on clinicopathological features and long-term survival of patients with periampullary carcinomas

The effect of non-jaundice stage at diagnosis on clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with periampullary carcinomas (PACs) remains uncertain.The 504 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with PACs between 2012 and 2017 were retrospective analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival and log-rank tests were used for comparisons between groups.Patients were divided into the non-jaundice group and the jaundice group according to serum total bilirubin (3 mg/dL) at diagnosis. By comparison with the jaundice group, more patients of the non-jaundice group manifested abdominal pain with longer duration. The degree of deterioration of complete blood count, liver function and CA19-9 in the non-jaundice group was significantly lower (P < .001). The non-jaundice group had larger tumor size (P = .001), more duodenal carcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma (P < .001), lower resection rate (P = .001) and less pancreatic and perineural invasion (P = .017, P = .002). The I stage was significantly more common in the non-jaundice group (P < .001). The cumulative 5-year survival of the non-jaundice group was significantly higher (P = .032). Multivariate analysis for all patients demonstrated that CEA level, cell differentiation, chemotherapy, and recurrence were independent prognostic factors.Patients with PACs in a non-jaundice stage at diagnosis showed more favorable clinicopathological features and long-term survival than such patients with jaundice.

Incidence and comparative outcomes of periampullary cancer: A population-based analysis demonstrating improved outcomes and increased use of adjuvant therapy from 2004 to 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Periampullary adenocarcinoma (PAC) is stratified anatomically: ampullary adenocarcinoma (AA), distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC), duodenal adenocarcinoma (DA), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We aimed to determine differences in incidence, prognosis, and treatment in stage-matched PAC patients in a longitudinal study.

METHODS

PAC patients were identified in The National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2012. Clinicopathological variables were compared between subtypes. Covariate-adjusted treatment use and OS were compared.

RESULTS

The 116 705 patients with PAC were identified: 1320 (9%) AA, 3732 (3%) DCC, 7142 (6%) DA, and 95 511 (82%) PDAC. DA, DCC, and PDAC were associated with worse survival compared with AA (hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.1-1.1; HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.4-1.6, and HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.8-1.9). Among resected patients, DA was associated with improved survival compared with AA (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.67-0.75); DCC and PDAC were associated with worse survival (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.31-1.53 and HR, 2.041; 95% CI, 1.07-2.12). Resected AA, PDAC, and DA, but not DCC, demonstrated significantly improved survival over the studied period. While all patients had increased adjuvant therapy (AT) receipt over time (P < 0.001), only patients with PDAC had increased neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) receipt ( P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Resected PDAC, AA, and DA were associated with clinically significant improved survival over time, mirroring a concurrent associated increased receipt of AT.

HER2/HER3 pathway in biliary tract malignancies; systematic review and meta-analysis: a potential therapeutic target?

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression and amplification have been reported as predictive markers for HER2-targeted therapy in breast and gastric cancer, whereas human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) is emerging as a potential resistance factor. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the HER2 and HER3 overexpression and amplification in biliary tract cancers (BTCs). An electronic search of MEDLINE, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society of Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO), and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) was performed to identify studies reporting HER2 and/or HER3 membrane protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or gene amplification by in situ hybridization (ISH) in BTCs. Studies were classified as "high quality" (HQ) if IHC overexpression was defined as presence of moderate/strong staining or "low quality" (LQ) where "any" expression was considered positive. Of 440 studies screened, 40 met the inclusion criteria. Globally, HER2 expression rate was 26.5 % (95 % CI 18.9-34.1 %). When HQ studies were analyzed (n = 27 studies), extrahepatic BTCs showed a higher HER2 overexpression rate compared to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: 19.9 % (95 % CI 12.8-27.1 %) vs. 4.8 % (95 % CI 0-14.5 %), respectively, p value 0.0049. HER2 amplification rate was higher in patients selected by HER2 overexpression compared to "unselected" patients: 57.6 % (95 % CI 16.2-99 %) vs. 17.9 % (95 % CI 0.1-35.4 %), respectively, p value 0.0072. HER3 overexpression (4/4 HQ studies) and amplification rates were 27.9 % (95 % CI 9.7-46.1 %) and 26.5 % (one study), respectively. Up to 20 % of extrahepatic BTCs appear to be HER2 overexpressed; of these, close to 60 % appear to be HER2 amplified, while HER3 is overexpressed or amplified in about 25 % of patients. Clinical relevance for targeted therapy should be tested in prospective clinical trials.

The Prognostic Impact of the Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Ampullary Cancer - A Retrospective Single Center Study

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (CEA) is a commonly immunohistochemically used antibody in pathological routine diagnostics with an overexpression in different cancers. We aimed to examine the immunohistochemically detectable CEA level in ampullary cancer and to correlate it with clinico-pathological data.

Methods: Shot-gun proteomics revealed CEA in undifferentiated ampullary cancer cell lines. Next, tumor tissue of 40 ampullary cancers of a retrospective single center cohort of 40 patients was stained immunohistochemically for CEA; CEA expression was determined and correlated with clinico-pathological data.

Results: Thirty-six patient specimens were included in statistical analysis. CEA expression and lymph node ratio (LNR) were the only independent predictors of overall survival in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, cell line and patient cohorts are the largest and characterized cohorts examined for CEA so far. Hereby, CEA expression in ampullary cancer cells permits an estimation of outcome and suggests an opportunity for individualized CEA-directed therapy. Further trials with larger cohorts are needed to verify our results and to integrate CEA immunohistochemistry into clinical routine.

Two synchronous malignant tumors of the pancreas: a case report

Background

Only a limited number of multiple synchronous primary malignancies of the pancreas have been reported in the medical literature. We report a case of two solid malignant tumors of the pancreas diagnosed preoperatively.

Case presentation

We describe a 65-year-old Sri Lankan woman who presented with progressive obstructive jaundice. Initial contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging detected a malignant tumor at the tail of her pancreas. A second tumor of the pancreatic head was detected with integrated imaging using multidetector computed tomography and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. She underwent total pancreaticoduodenectomy and splenectomy. Gross examination of the specimen confirmed the presence of two separate tumors. Histology of the ampullary tumor showed pancreatic-type adenocarcinoma and the tumor in the tail of her pancreas showed a colloid-type adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

The possibility of multiple primary malignant solid tumors of different types with malignant potential has to be considered even without background pathology when managing multiple tumors in the pancreas.

Molecular profiles in foregut oncology

Oncology is and will continue to evolve resulting from a better understanding of the biology and intrinsic genetic profile of each cancer. Tumor biomarkers and targeted therapies are the new face of precision medicine, so it is essential for all physicians caring for cancer patients to understand and assist patients in understanding the role and importance of such markers and strategies to target them. This review was initiated in an attempt to identify, characterize, and discuss literature supporting clinically relevant molecular markers and interventions. The efficacy of targeting specific markers will be examined with data from clinical trials focusing on treatments for esophageal, gastric, liver, gallbladder, biliary tract, and pancreatic cancers.

Ampullary cancer--a separate clinical entity?

AIMS

Ampullary cancer is a relatively uncommon tumour, with a better prognosis than pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to review the recent literature on ampullary adenocarcinoma, focusing on histological types and prognostic factors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using PubMed, we carried out a comprehensive search of the literature, which was extended to April 2013 to retrieve all additional publications. Ampullary cancer comprises two main histological subtypes, the pancreatobiliary type and the intestinal type. These subtypes have different pathogenetic and clinical characteristics. Clinical and histological parameters as well as immunohistochemical markers have been identified as significant prognostic factors in ampullary cancer. Moreover, several immunohistochemical markers have been studied, not only as prognostic factors but as a means of differentiating ampullary from other peri-ampullary tumours, and of identifying the exact histological subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

The considerable differences in the frequencies of the two subtypes of ampullary tumours reported in literature reinforce the necessity to define molecular markers to distinguish them. Until then, the significance of the histological subtype as a prognostic factor should be evaluated cautiously. Future research on the pathogenesis of ampullary cancer will possibly suggest that we should stop treating this type of cancer as a separate entity.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma phenotyping, a clinicobiological prognostic study

BACKGROUND

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare tumour with a poor prognosis. Molecular biology data on SBA carcinogenesis are lacking.

METHODS

Expression of HER2, β-catenin, p53 and mismatch repair (MMR) protein was assessed by immunohistochemistry. KRAS, V600E BRAF mutations and microsatellite instability were investigated.

RESULTS

We obtained samples from 63 SBA patients (tumour stages: I-II: 30%; III: 35%; IV: 32%; locally advanced: 3%). HER2 overexpression (3+) was observed in 2 out of 62 patients, overexpression of p53 in 26 out of 62, abnormal expression of β-catenin in 12 out of 61, KRAS mutation in 21 out of 49, BRAF V600E mutation in 1 out of 40 patients, MMR deficiency (dMMR) in 14 out of 61 and was consistent with Lynch syndrome in 9 out of 14 patients. All of the dMMR tumours were in the duodenum or jejunum and only one was stage IV. Median overall survival (OS) was 36.6 months (95% CI, 26.9-72.2). For all patients, in univariate analysis, stages I-II (P<0.001), WHO PS 0-1 (P=0.01) and dMMR phenotype (P=0.02) were significantly associated with longer OS. In multivariate analysis, disease stage (P=0.01) and WHO PS 0-1 (P=0.001) independently predicted longer OS. For stage IV patients, median OS was 20.5 months (95% CI: 14.6; 36.6 months). In multivariate analysis, WHO PS 0-1 (P=0.0001) and mutated KRAS status (P=0.02) independently predicted longer OS.

CONCLUSION

This large study suggests that molecular alterations in SBA are closer to those in colorectal cancer (CRC) than those in gastric cancer, with low levels of HER 2 overexpression and high frequencies of KRAS mutations. The seemingly higher frequency of dMMR than in CRC may be explained by the higher frequency of Lynch syndrome in SBA patients. A dMMR phenotype was significantly associated with a non-metastatic tumour (P=0.02). A trend for a good prognosis and a duodenum or jejunum primary site was associated with dMMR.

Lack of HER2 overexpression and amplification in small intestinal adenocarcinoma

HER2 overexpression and amplification have been studied as a therapeutic and prognostic target in a number of human cancers, including esophageal, gastric, and colorectal adenocarcinomas. However, HER2 status has not been well investigated in primary small intestinal adenocarcinoma, probably because of its rarity. In this study, we conducted immunohistochemical analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER2 on 49 primary nonampullar small intestinal adenocarcinomas. The results showed a complete lack of HER2 protein expression in 47 cases (96%) by immunohistochemical analysis. Only 2 cases (4%) showed a 1+ staining pattern. No tumors exhibited 2+ or 3+ HER2 immunoreactivity. By FISH, none of the tumors, including those with 1+ HER2 immunoreactivity, exhibited HER2 gene amplification. These observations demonstrate that HER2 protein overexpression and gene amplification are infrequent events, if they occur at all, in small intestinal adenocarcinoma. Thus, routine immunohistochemical and/or FISH testing for HER2 for potential targeted anti-HER2 therapy may not be beneficial for patients with primary small intestinal adenocarcinoma.

Immunophenotype and molecular characterisation of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine

Background:

Despite having a dramatically larger surface area than the large intestine, the small intestine is an infrequent site for the development of adenocarcinoma. To better understand the molecular abnormalities in small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA), we characterised a number of candidate oncogenic pathways and the immunophenotype of this rare cancer.

Methods:

Tissue microarrays were constructed from tumour samples from 54 patients with all stages of the disease. Immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing were conducted.

Results:

The profile of cytokeratin 20 and 7 coexpression was variable, but expression of caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) was present in 70% of cases. In this young population (median age 54 years), loss of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins occurred in 35% of patients, with confirmed MSI in 100% of tested cases. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was common, occurring in 96 and 71% of patients, respectively. Only one case showed HER2 expression and none showed loss of phosphatase and tensin homologue mutated on chromosome 10 (PTEN).

Conclusions:

These results suggest that alterations in DNA MMR pathways are common in SBAs, similar to what is observed in large bowel adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, the high percentage of tumours expressing both EGFR and VEGF suggests that patients with this rare cancer may benefit from therapeutic strategies targeting EGFR and VEGF receptor (VEGFR).

Prognostic value of Bax, Bcl-2, p53, and TUNEL staining in patients with radically resected ampullary carcinoma

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of data in the literature concerning the identification of potential prognostic factors in ampullary adenocarcinoma.

AIMS

To examine the prognostic significance of Bax, Bcl-2, and p53 protein expression and the apoptotic index in a large cohort of uniformly treated patients with radically resected ampullary cancer.

METHODS

All patients with a pathological diagnosis of ampullary cancer and radical resection were evaluated. Expression analysis for p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 was performed by immunohistochemistry. Apoptotic cells were identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL).

RESULTS

Thirty nine tumour specimens from patients with radically resected ampullary adenocarcinoma were studied. A positive significant correlation between Bax and p53 expression was found by rank correlation matrix (p < 0.001). A trend towards a positive correlation was found between the apoptotic index and p53 expression (p = 0.059). By univariate analysis, overall survival was influenced by Bax expression, p53 expression, and TUNEL staining (p = 0.001, p = 0.01, and p = 0.03, respectively). Bcl-2 expression did not influence overall survival in these patients (p = 0.55). By multivariate Cox regression analysis, the only immunohistochemical parameter that influenced overall survival was Bax expression (p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence that apoptosis may be an important prognostic factor in patients with radically resected ampullary cancer. This study is the first to assess the clinical usefulness of Bax expression in radically resected ampullary cancer.

Pathogenesis and risk factors of small bowel adenocarcinoma: a colorectal cancer sibling?

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a very rare entity accounting for one-fourth of the small intestine neoplasms. Usually accompanied by nonspecific symptoms occurring late in the course of the disease, they are associated with a dismal prognosis. It appears that SBA shares several genetic characteristics with large bowel tumors, but also has unique features. The purpose of this article is to review pathogenesis and risks factors of SBA to better understand its molecular features as well as its resemblances and dissimilarities with colorectal cancer (CRC). Better understanding of sporadic and hereditary genetic pathways potentially involved will undoubtedly lead to better prevention and therapeutic management of this rare but aggressive disease.

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: comparative histologic/immunohistochemical classification and follow-up

A broad histomorphologic spectrum of ampullary carcinomas of Vater make a reproducible histologic classification difficult. Using cytokeratin immunohistochemistry, we present a new classification of ampullary carcinomas and analyze their clinical significance. Fifty-five invasive carcinomas of Vater's ampulla were histologically classified into pancreaticobiliary, intestinal, and other types. Serial sections of all carcinoma specimens were additionally stained with antibodies to cytokeratins (CK7, CK20), apomucins (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC), CEA, CA19-9, Ki67, and p53. Follow-up of patients from 4 months to 22 years after surgery (mean interval, 51.6 months) was evaluated. Most carcinomas of the ampulla of Vater were of immunohistochemically pancreaticobiliary type (iPT, CK7+, CK20-; 54.5%) or intestinal type (immunohistochemically intestinal type [iIT], CK7-, CK20+; 23.6%). Some carcinomas of immunohistochemically "other" type (iOT both CK7+ and CK20+ or CK7- and CK20-; 21.8%) had precursor lesions of iIT or iPT. Carcinomas positive for MUC2 or CEA were associated with iIT (MUC2, P < 0.001; CEA, P = 0.003), whereas MUC5AC-positive carcinomas were related to iPT (P = 0.005). Our classification based on cytokeratin-immunohistochemistry correlated well with the histologic classification according to published criteria (kappa-coefficient = 0.398; P < 0.001). Furthermore, histologically unusual types could be histogenetically related to pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa or intestinal mucosa. Therefore, all 4 signet-ring cell carcinomas were iIT carcinomas. Thus, cytokeratin immunohistochemistry allows a reproducible, histogenetically based categorization of ampullary carcinomas. However, neither histopathologic nor immunohistochemical subgroups significantly correlated with clinical outcome in our German collective. The overall survival was significantly shorter in males (P = 0.032) and patients with positive nodal stage (N1 < N0; P = 0.0025).

Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel

Cancer of the small bowel is a rare entity but its incidence is rising. Historically, outcome is poor despite apparent curative resection. At present surgery remains the only treatment modality of proven benefit in the management of this disease. Recent data would suggest 5-year survival rates in the order of 40-50% at all sites of small bowel cancer. To improve upon this, earlier diagnosis with a high index of suspicion and multicentre adjuvant therapy trials are required.

Periampullary cancers: are there differences?

Our review supports the clinical impression that periampullary cancers vary in outcome after resection. Overall survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy is greatest for patients with ampullary and duodenal cancers, intermediate for patients with bile duct cancer, and least for patients with pancreatic cancer. Moreover, survival for each tumor stage is greater for nonpancreatic periampullary cancers than for pancreatic cancers. Invasion of the pancreas by nonpancreatic periampullary cancers is a major factor adversely affecting survival. Recent data suggest that inherent differences in tumor biology rather than embryologic, anatomic, or histologic factors probably account for these differences in survival. Finally, although pancreaticoduodenectomy remains the procedure of choice for resectable periampullary cancers, further increases in survival will likely evolve through more effective neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies rather than modifications in the surgical approach.

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater associated with or without adenoma: a clinicopathologic analysis of 198 cases with reference to p53 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical expressions

Adenomatous areas are found frequently within or in the vicinity of carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. This makes definite diagnosis difficult in the preoperative examination. The adenoma-carcinoma development hypothesis is generally accepted for colorectal tumors. Recently, a genetic alteration model during colorectal tumor development has attracted much attention, leading to various studies. We studied clinicopathologic features, prognostic factors, and the alteration of the p53 tumor suppressor gene using p53 immunohistochemical staining in pure adenomas, pure carcinomas, and carcinomas with adenomatous areas. A proliferative activity of the tumors using Ki-67 was also evaluated. Nine cases of pure adenoma and 198 cases of carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater were selected for this study. Among the 198 cases of thecarcinoma, 83 cases (42%) had adenomatous areas. Positivity of p53 immunohistochemical staining was 0% in pure adenomas, 36% in the adenomatous areas of carcinomas with adenomatous areas and 62% in the carcinomatous areas of carcinomas with adenomatous areas, and 56% in pure carcinoma. Accumulation of p53 protein and the Ki-67 labeling index revealed no significant difference in prognosis. The clinicopathological factors examined were as follows: degree of invasion of the surrounding tissue, such as duodenal wall; pancreatic parenchyma; the presence or absence of lymphatic permeation; venous invasion; perineural invasion; the presence of regional lymph node metastasis; and TNM stage. Each of the clinicopathological factors showed a significant difference. Multivariate analysis revealed strong predictors for a worse prognosis: presence of lymphatic permeation, invasion of the pancreas, and perineural invasion. In conclusion, our results are consistent with the adenoma--carcinoma development hypothesis. It would seem that the molecular events leading to p53 accumulation in neoplasms of the ampulla of Vater occur relatively late during the oncogenetic process. Moreover, we think it may be useful to refer to the p53 overexpression in the diagnosis of ampullary tumors.

p53 and p21/Waf1 protein expression and K-ras codon 12 mutation in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater

OBJECTIVE

There have been few studies on the molecular biological characteristics of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater. In this study, p53 and p21/Waf1 expression and K-ras codon 12 mutation in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater were investigated.

METHODS

Thirty-seven cases of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater were studied. Macroscopically, the carcinoma was ulcerative in 15 cases and nonulcerative in 22 cases. Histologically, nine were intestinal type, 27 were pancreaticobiliary type, and one was undifferentiated. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were immunohistochemically stained for p53 and p21. K-ras codon 12 mutation was detected with the two-step polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, followed by direct sequencing.

RESULTS

p53 overexpression was found in 17 of 37 cases (46%) and was more frequent in the ulcerative type than in the nonulcerative type (67% vs 32%, p < 0.05). p21/Waf1 protein expression was found in 15 of 37 cases (41%), and was not correlated with that of p53. K-ras codon 12 mutation was found in 14 of 37 cases (38%), and was more frequently detected in the intestinal type than in the pancreaticobiliary type (66% vs 30%, p < 0.05). On direct sequencing, the mutations were mainly GGT to GAT (9/14) and GGT to GTT (4/14). The type of mutation did not correlate with the histological type.

CONCLUSIONS

In carcinoma of the papilla of Vater, p53 overexpression may play a role in tumor ulceration. p21/Waf1 expression is induced via a p53-independent pathway. Carcinomas of the intestinal and pancreaticobiliary types may develop via different mechanisms, and K-ras mutation is mainly associated with the intestinal type.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum in the elderly: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 17 cases

Seventeen cases of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma occurring in the elderly (older than 65 years) were examined to clarify their clinicopathological features and biological behavior. The mean age was 77.4 years (range, 66-104), and there was no appreciable difference in the incidence between the sexes (female: male ratio, 8: 9). Thirteen patients had tumors located in the first portion of the duodenum, three in the second portion and one in the third portion. Grossly, there were three varieties of lesions: six polypoid, four flat-elevated and seven ulcerative-invasive. Sixteen cases showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, three of which were difficult to distinguish from adenoma, and one was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Three of 16 tumors had poor differentiation in the invasive area, whereas mucosal lesions were well differentiated. Eight tumors had invaded the duodenal wall with occasional involvement of the pancreas. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated p53 protein overexpression in two intramucosal (22.2%) and five invasive (62.5%) cancers. In the intramucosal area the mean Ki-67-positive rate (PR) of the tumors with distant metastasis was significantly higher than that of the tumors without metastasis (46.0 vs 31.6%; P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the association between PR and gross feature or depth of the tumors. Clinical follow-up showed three of the five patients with invasive cancer died of carcinoma within 28 months. Compared with published data from other investigators, the results of the present study indicate a proximal shift of duodenal carcinoma in the elderly. Furthermore, it is concluded that invasive duodenal adenocarcinomas with high PR should be considered as potentially aggressive tumors, although their histology may indicate a high degree of differentiation.

High levels of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) mRNA may predict local relapses in early stage urinary bladder cancer

Elevated expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) gene has been previously reported in some types of human neoplasms, but its role in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer has still not been investigated. In the present study, we analysed 28 samples of early stage bladder tumours for the presence of TGF-alpha mRNA using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We detected TGF-alpha mRNA in 71% (20/28) of these samples. When we related the expression levels of TGF-alpha with local relapses of patients during a follow-up of 2 years, we found that a high TGF-alpha expression level in bladder cancer was significantly associated with local relapses in patients with early stage tumours. The appearance of early relapses in tumours with high TGF-alpha expression levels may suggest the existence of an additional marker in the prediction of local relapses in patients with superficial disease.