Dpc4 Protein in Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms of the Pancreas: Frequent Loss of Expression in Invasive Carcinomas Suggests a Role in Genetic Progression

摘要: DPC4 (MADH4, SMAD4) is a nuclear transcription factor shown to be genetically inactivated in over half of infiltrating ductal adenocarcinomas the pancreas. Immunohistochemical labeling for gene product using monoclonal antibody has recently been an extremely sensitive and specific marker alterations pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are biologically less aggressive subtype neoplasm that may show benign, borderline, or overtly malignant features. However, role inactivation development MCNs not examined. The immunohistochemical expression Dpc4 protein was therefore examined 36 mucinous this previously characterized antibody. studied included 23 adenomas, 1 tumor with borderline potential, 5 tumors carcinoma situ, 7 invasive carcinomas. Twenty-nine (100%) 29 noninvasive strongly expressed neoplastic epithelium. In striking contrast, only one (14%) seven carcinomas epithelium (p = 0.0001). adjacent stroma retained all cases. loss expression, areas situ were identified same paraffin sections, these Dpc4. frequent indicates genetic occurs late progression suggests relationship invasion.