Immunohistochemical analyses of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, CD44s, and CD44v6 expressions, and Ki-67 labeling index in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas and associated invasive carcinomas.

We examined the expressions of adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, beta-catenin, CD44s, and CD44v6) and Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI) in low- and moderate-grade dysplasia and invasive carcinoma components in ten noninvasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas and eight invasive carcinomas associated with IPMNs of the pancreas using immunohistochemical methods. There was no significant difference in regard to the proportion of components expressing either E-cadherin or beta-catenin in more than 70% of the tumor cells between the low- and moderate-grade dysplasia components. In contrast, the proportion of those in invasive carcinoma components was significantly lower than in low- or moderate-grade dysplasia components. Also, there was no significant difference in the proportion of components expressing CD44s or CD44v6 in more than 5% of tumor cells among low-grade dysplasia, moderate-grade dysplasia, and invasive carcinoma components. In contrast, the Ki-67 LI values increased in the order of low-grade dysplasia, moderate-grade dysplasia, and invasive carcinoma components, with significant differences among them. The present results indicate that carcinoma components are associated with a decrease in tumor cells expressing E-cadherin and beta-catenin and have the highest proliferative activity.