TY - JOUR T1 - Expression of EGF and EGFR Strongly Correlates with Metastasis of Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 1399 LP - 1404 VL - 28 IS - 2B AU - ANNA PRYCZYNICZ AU - KATARZYNA GUZIŃSKA-USTYMOWICZ AU - ANDRZEJ KEMONA AU - JOLANTA CZYŻEWSKA Y1 - 2008/03/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/2B/1399.abstract N2 - Background: The epidermal growth factor family members: EGF, EGFR and the c-erbB-2(HER-2/neu) gene product have been found to play a role in carcinomas of the stomach, liver, breast, ovary and lungs. Recent reports have indicated that they are also involved in the growth of pancreatic ductal carcinoma, its invasiveness and metastasis. Patients and Methods: Thirty-six patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma were analysed with respect to sex, age, histological type, malignancy grade (G), pTN status (pTN), local lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. The tumor levels of EGF, EGFR and c-erbB-2 expression were determined immunohistochemically. Results: Expression of c-erbB-2 was observed in 24/36 cases, EGF in 13/36 cases and EGFR in 18/36 cases. Overexpression of EGF and EGFR was associated with metastasis to lymph nodes and other organs. A correlation was also found between EGF expression and the presence of EGFR in the tumour. The expression of c-erbB-2 protein was not found to correlate with any parameters. Conclusion: EGF and EGFR play a key role in neoplastic spread through lymph node involvement and metastasis to other organs. Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -