Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Cancer Center of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
J Clin Pathol. 2012 May;65(5):431-6. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200400. Epub 2012 Mar 6.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of claudins 7 and 18 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Material tested included 111 operated samples and 47 additional biopsy samples consisting of 26 cases of pancreatitis, 3 cases of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and 18 ductal adenocarcinomas. Samples were stained with antibodies to claudins 7 and 18 and analysed for membranous and cytoplasmic expression. Membrane bound claudin 7 and 18 expression was detected in 62 of 105 (59%) and 78 of 111 (70%) cases, respectively. Membrane bound claudin 7 and 18 were associated with large or intermediate neoplastic ducts (p=0.01, p=0.002, respectively). Well differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinomas displayed more cases with membrane bound claudin 7 or 18 immunopositivity (p=0.003, p=0.03, respectively). All pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias studied expressed membrane bound claudin 18. Membrane bound claudin 7 or 18 positivity was not associated with survival (p=0.17, p=0.98). In the biopsy cases membrane bound claudin 18 had 100% specificity and 51% sensitivity for a tumour marker.
Claudin 7 and 18 expression is related to gland size of neoplastic cells and is especially found in tumours with intermediate and large ducts and well differentiated tumours. Membrane bound claudin 18, when present, is a useful marker for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Claudins 7 and 18 were not associated with patient survival or spread of tumours.
本研究旨在评估紧密连接蛋白 7 和 18 在胰腺导管腺癌中的表达。
检测的材料包括 111 例手术样本和 47 例额外的活检样本，其中包括 26 例胰腺炎、3 例胰腺上皮内瘤变和 18 例导管腺癌。用抗紧密连接蛋白 7 和 18 的抗体对样本进行染色，并分析其膜和细胞质表达。在 105 例中的 62 例（59%）和 111 例中的 78 例（70%）分别检测到膜结合紧密连接蛋白 7 和 18 的表达。膜结合紧密连接蛋白 7 和 18 与大或中等大小的肿瘤导管相关（p=0.01，p=0.002）。分化良好的胰腺腺癌显示出更多的膜结合紧密连接蛋白 7 或 18 免疫阳性病例（p=0.003，p=0.03）。所有研究的胰腺上皮内瘤变均表达膜结合紧密连接蛋白 18。膜结合紧密连接蛋白 7 或 18 的阳性与生存无关（p=0.17，p=0.98）。在活检病例中，膜结合紧密连接蛋白 18 的肿瘤标志物特异性为 100%，敏感性为 51%。
紧密连接蛋白 7 和 18 的表达与肿瘤细胞的腺体大小有关，特别是在具有中等和大导管以及分化良好的肿瘤中发现。膜结合紧密连接蛋白 18 的存在是诊断胰腺癌的有用标志物。紧密连接蛋白 7 和 18 与患者生存或肿瘤扩散无关。
