The detection of tumor location and lymph node metastasis by aberrant NXPH1 and NXPH2 expressions in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease associated with a poor prognosis and high morbidity. Early diagnosis and complete tumor removal are still the principal factors extending life expectancy in PDAC patients. Here, the relationship of NXPH1 and NXPH2 expressions with clinicopathological parameters of PDAC was evaluated. Immunohistochemical analysis of NXPH1 and NXPH2 was performed in one tissue microarray of 96 surgical specimens, including normal pancreatic duct tissue (n = 5), PDACs at various stages of differentiation (n = 77), and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (n = 14). The intensity of both NXPH1 and NXPH2 staining was weak in only a small proportion of benign pancreatic ductal epithelial cells and was significantly higher in most PDAC specimens than in non-neoplastic pancreatic tissue specimens. However, no correlation of the expression of these PDAC biomarkers with tumor grades, T, N, and AJCC pathologic stages was established. Contrary to our expectation, the immunohistochemical results of NXPH1 and NXPH2 were inversely correlated with N stage in PDAC. NXPH1 and NXPH2 as PDAC biomarkers may be used to identify patients with this tumor, help delineate appropriate surgical margins, and identify lymph node metastasis in imaging studies.

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