Expression of CD24 in adenocarcinomas of the pancreas correlates with higher tumor grades.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: CD24 is expressed in hematological malignancies as well as in a large variety of solid tumors and is often associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. We aimed to evaluate CD24 protein expression in pancreatic adenocarcinomas and to correlate it to clinicopathological data including patient survival.

METHODS

95 primary adenocarcinomas of the pancreas were immunostained using a monoclonal CD24 antibody (Ab-2, clone 24C02). Staining was evaluated as negative versus positive for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

CD24 expression was observed in 71.6% of cases with a heterogeneous distribution, and a significantly higher rate of positivity in high grade (G3) tumors. In univariate survival analyses, no association of CD24 expression with shortened overall survival of the patients could be demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

CD24 is commonly expressed in adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, preferentially high-grade tumors and thus might be a marker of disease progression.