Immunohistochemical Expression of 14-3-3 σ Protein in Intraductal Papillary-mucinous Tumor and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Pancreas

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 26; no. 4B; p. 3105
• Main Authors: TOSHIYUKI OKADA, NORIHIRO MASUDA, YASUYUKI FUKAI, TATSUO SHIMURA, YASUJI NISHIDA, YASUO HOSOUCHI, KENJI KASHIWABARA, TAKASHI NAKAJIMA, HIROYUKI KUWANO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.07.2006
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Background: 14-3-3 σ (sigma) has been shown to be overexpressed in pancreatic cancers by a c-DNA microarray technique. However, the expression of 14-3-3 σ in intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas remains unclear. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the biological importance of 14-3-3 σ expression in pancreatic carcinogenesis, immunohistochemistry for 14-3-3 σ, CDX2, MUC1, MUC2, p53, p16 and Ki-67 was carried out on 33 IPMTs and the results were compared with those for 14 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs). Results: The frequency of 14-3-3 σ immunoreactivity was 70% and 100% in IPMT and IDC, respectively. The frequency of MUC1 and Ki-67 immunoreactivity was significantly higher in IDC than IPMT. In IPMT, dark columnar cell types prevailed over clear columnar cell types in terms of the frequency of the Ki-67 labeling index. Conclusion: The overexpression of 14-3-3 σ was confirmed in both IDC and IPMT. Therefore, this overexpression might occur in the early stages of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Moreover, IPMT composed of dark columnar cells might be a potentially more advanced form than that made up of clear columnar cells.