Tenascin C, Fibronectin, and Tumor-Stroma Ratio in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

• Published in: Pancreas Vol. 48; no. 1; p. 43
• Main Authors: Leppänen, Joni, Lindholm, Ville, Isohookana, Joel, Haapasaari, Kirsi-Maria, Karihtala, Peeter, Lehenkari, Petri P, Saarnio, Juha, Kauppila, Joonas H, Karttunen, Tuomo J, Helminen, Olli, Huhta, Heikki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - metabolism; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - pathology; Female; Fibronectins - biosynthesis; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas - metabolism; Pancreas - pathology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Prognosis; Tenascin - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 1536-4828
• DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000001195

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by abundant stroma with increased expression of tenascin C and fibronectin. Their role and tumor-stroma ratio in PDAC are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate tenascin C and fibronectin expression and tumor-stroma ratio and their prognostic relevance in PDAC. Ninety-five resected PDACs were immunohistochemically stained for tenascin C and fibronectin, and the expression was separately assessed in tumor bulk and front. Tumor-stroma ratio was determined with sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Tenascin C and fibronectin were abundantly expressed in the stroma of PDAC, but absent in adjacent normal pancreatic tissue. Fibronectin expression of the bulk was associated with high T class (P = 0.045). In the main analysis, tenascin C and fibronectin expression and tumor-stroma ratio were not associated with patient survival. In a subgroup analysis of early-stage PDAC (T1-T2 tumors), high tenascin C expression in the tumor bulk was associated with poor prognosis (hazard ratio, 8.23; 95% confidence interval, 2.71-24.96). Tenascin C and fibronectin are abundantly expressed in PDAC, but they seem to have no major association with patient survival. However, in early-stage PDAC, tenascin C expression of the tumor bulk may have prognostic impact. Tumor-stroma ratio has no prognostic value in PDAC.