Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of malignant features in mucinous cystic tumors of the pancreas

Background/Aims: To investigate the malignancy of mucinous cystic tumors (MCTs) of the pancreas, we examined cliniccipathological features and immunohistochemical findings of MCT. Methodology: We analyzed the expression of p53 protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, alpha 6-integrin subunit, a(5)beta(1)-integrin, and interleukin-1 receptor type I in tumor specimens from eight patients with MCT. Results: The tumors were classified as mucinous cyst adenoma. (n=6) or mucinous cyst adenocarcino-ma (n=2). The actuarial five-year survival rate was 83.3%. All in eight MCTs had 'ovarian-type' stroma in the cyst wall. The alpha(6)-integrin subunit and p53 protein were expressed in adenocarcinoma tissues of MCTs, and in two adenomas the alpha(6)-integrin subunit and p53,protein were also co-expressed. Conclusions: Our present results indicate that co-expression of the alpha(6)-integrin subunit and p53 protein should be appreciated as an indicator of malignancy in MCTs.