Immunophenotypes of Ductal Epithelial Cells in Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background/Aims: In this report, we aimed to investigate the distribution and characterization of biomarker-immunolabeled ductal epithelium in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Design: Eighteen patients with PDAC were medically diagnosed prior to being treated periodically. All clinical records were collected and assayed. The PDAC samples were subjected to routine biochemical tests and immuno-stains of immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Results: As results, immunohistochemical findings indicated pancreatic ductal cells in PDAC showed plenty of Ki-67, P53, RP, SAM positive cells expressed in nuclei. In addition, ductal epithelial cells exhibited numerous positive cells of CK7, 18, 19, 20 biomarkers, respectively. Interestingly, compared to non-PDAC controls, immunostaining results showed that endocrine hormones were positively expressed in pancreatic ducts of PDAC, characterized with increased insulin-, Ngn3-, PDX1-fluorescence-labeled cells, and reduced F-box and WD-40 domain protein 7 (Fbxw7)-labeled cells in ducts. Conclusion: These clinicopathologic findings preliminarily disclose that there may be a potential for insulin- producing cells in PDAC, possibly through negatively inducing Fbxw7 ubiquitination in pancreatic ducts. (C) 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel