K-ras oncogene subtype mutations are associated with survival but not expression of p53, p16(INK4A), p21(WAF-1), cyclin D1, erbB-2 and erbB-3 in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Differential c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 mRNA expression in cancer of the pancreas compared with cancer of the papilla of Vater

AIM: We examined quantitative mRNA expression of growth factor receptors (c-erbB-1, c-erbB-2) and the anti-apoptosis gene survivin known to be regulated in pancreatic adenocarcinomas and compared the expression pattern with that in carcinomas of the papilla of Vater.

METHODS: Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (QRT-PCR, Taqman^TM) was performed to analyze mRNA expression levels of c-erbB-1, c-erbB-2 and survivin in normal and corresponding tumor samples of 31 pancreatic adenocarcinomas and 8 cancers of the papilla of Vater.

RESULTS: The overall median mRNA expression of survivin was significantly increased in both adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (P<0.01) and papilla of Vater (P<0.008) compared with uninvolved normal control tissue. In pancreatic cancer, expression of c-erbB-1 was significantly decreased compared with the normal pancreatic tissue (P<0.03), whereas in the cancer of the papilla of Vater expression of c-erbB-2 was significantly downregulated (P<0.05) compared with the paired normal samples. Gene expression was not associated with tumor stage, differentiation or prognosis.

CONCLUSION: The common anti-apoptosis gene survivin is overexpressed both in the cancer of the papilla of Vater and pancreas. In contrast, the growth factor receptor genes c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 are differentially regulated in both tumor entities adding further evidence that pancreatic cancer is biologically different from the cancer of papilla of Vater.

p53 protein expression and CA19.9 values in differential cytological diagnosis of pancreatic cancer complicated with chronic pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis

AIM: To evaluate p53 protein overexpression and to measure serum CA19.9 concentrations in cytological diagnosis of patients with suspected pancreatic cancer.

METHODS: 24 patients with suspected pancreatic cancer due to chronic pancreatitis, had a pancreatic mass determined by imaging methods. The serum CA19.9 concentration was measured by solid phase radioimmunoassay. On laparotomy, puncture biopsy was performed, and specimens were divided into two parts for cytological diagnosis and detection of p53 protein.

RESULTS: Cytology offered a sensitivity of 0.63, a specificity of 1.00, and an accuracy of 0.63. p53 protein analysis offered a sensitivity of 0.44, a specificity of 1.00, and an accuracy of 0.73. CA19.9 offered a sensitivity of 0.44, a specificity of 0.80, and an accuracy of 0.67. The combined cytology and p53 protein analysis showed a sensitivity of 0.78, a specificity of 1.00, and an accuracy of 0.92. Cytology and CA19.9 showed a sensitivity of 0.67, a specificity of 0.80, an accuracy of 0.67. combined cytology and p53 protein analysis and CA19.9 showed a sensitivity of 0.78, a specificity of 0.80, and an accuracy of 0.79.

CONCLUSION: Superior to any single test, the combined approach is helpful for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer complicated with chronic pancreatitis.The combined cytology and p53 protein analysis offers the best diagnostic efficacy.