TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of nerve growth factors in pancreatic neural tissue and pancreatic cancer
AU - Schneider, M. B.
AU - Standop, J.
AU - Ulrich, A.
AU - Wittel, U.
AU - Friess, H.
AU - Andrén-Sandberg, A.
AU - Pour, P. M.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - One of the characteristics of pancreatic cancer is its tendency to invade neural tissue. We hypothesized that the affinity of cancer cells for nerve tissue is related to the presence of growth factors in neural tissue and their receptors in cancer cells. Sections of pancreatic cancer and normal pancreatic tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the neurotrophins NGF, BDNF, NT-3, NT-4, and their receptors TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC, as well as the low-affinity receptor, p75NTR. TrkA expression was found in duct, islet, and cancer cells; TrkB was found in the α-cells of the islet only. The anti-pan-Trk antibody (TrkB3), which is presumed to recognize all three receptors, immunoreacted with duct and acinar cells in normal tissue and with cancer cells. The staining with TrkC was similar to that of TrkA. The low-affinity receptor p75NTR was expressed in the neural tissue and in scattered duct cells of the normal tissue only. Duct and acinar cells, as well as neural tissue and cancer cells, showed weak to strong immunoreactivity with NGF. NT-3 expression was noted in capillary endothelia and erythrocytes. NT-4 showed specific staining for ductule cells. The expression and distribution of neurotrophins and their receptors suggest their role in the potential of pancreatic cancer cells for neural invasion.
AB - One of the characteristics of pancreatic cancer is its tendency to invade neural tissue. We hypothesized that the affinity of cancer cells for nerve tissue is related to the presence of growth factors in neural tissue and their receptors in cancer cells. Sections of pancreatic cancer and normal pancreatic tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the neurotrophins NGF, BDNF, NT-3, NT-4, and their receptors TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC, as well as the low-affinity receptor, p75NTR. TrkA expression was found in duct, islet, and cancer cells; TrkB was found in the α-cells of the islet only. The anti-pan-Trk antibody (TrkB3), which is presumed to recognize all three receptors, immunoreacted with duct and acinar cells in normal tissue and with cancer cells. The staining with TrkC was similar to that of TrkA. The low-affinity receptor p75NTR was expressed in the neural tissue and in scattered duct cells of the normal tissue only. Duct and acinar cells, as well as neural tissue and cancer cells, showed weak to strong immunoreactivity with NGF. NT-3 expression was noted in capillary endothelia and erythrocytes. NT-4 showed specific staining for ductule cells. The expression and distribution of neurotrophins and their receptors suggest their role in the potential of pancreatic cancer cells for neural invasion.
KW - Carcinoma
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Invasion
KW - Nerve growth factor
KW - Nerves
KW - Pancreas
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034827058&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/002215540104901002
DO - 10.1177/002215540104901002
M3 - Article
C2 - 11561004
AN - SCOPUS:0034827058
SN - 0022-1554
VL - 49
SP - 1205
EP - 1210
JO - Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
JF - Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
IS - 10
ER -
