Microscopic and immunohistochemical characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas of moderate and low degrees of differentiation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2023.4.60-73

Keywords:

immunohistochemistry, epithelial-mesenchymal, transformation, ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreas, differentiation, E-cadherin, β-catenin, CK7, CK18, αSMA, vimentin.

Abstract

Background. To date, there is no single protocol or guideline for the macro- and microscopic description of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which is due to the heterogeneity within the tumor and its dispersed growth associated with the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT). Also, there are no data on the expression of EMT markers at different degrees of differentiation and features of their expression in the PDAC ducts and the EMT zone in the literature. Aim: quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers in the glandular-ductal compartment and in the EMT zone of the PDAC of a moderate (G2) and low (G3) degree of differentiation. Methods. A complex pathomorphological, immunohistochemical study of operative and biopsy material of 49 patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with a moderate (G2) and low (G3) degree of differentiation was conducted. All research results were processed in the program«STATISTICA 13.0» (StatSoft Inc., license No. JPZ804I382130ARCN10-J). Results. During the histological examination, it was established that the histoarchitectonics of the PDAC consists of glandular-ductal and stromal compartments. According to the Masson-trichrome method, a statistically significant decrease in the area of trabecular and tubular structures and a statistically significant increase in the area of the fibrous stroma from G2 to G3 were established. In the G2-G3 sequence of the differentiation stage, a statistically significant decrease in the relative expression area of E-cadherin, CK7 and CK18 in the EMT zones was established in comparison with the glandular-ductal compartment, an inversely proportional expression of β-catenin in the transformation zones and in singly transformed cells, a statistical increase relative expression area of αSMA and vimentin in the stromal compartment. With a decrease in the relative expression area of epithelial markers in the EMT zones, there was an increase in the relative expression area of αSMA and vimentin in the G2-G3 sequence of the differentiation stage. Conclusion. From a moderate (G2) to a low (G3) degree of differentiation, a statistically significant (p<0.05) inversely proportional expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers in the cells of the EMT zones is noted.

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Published

2024-01-15

How to Cite

Shishkin , M., & Kabachenko , V. (2024). Microscopic and immunohistochemical characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas of moderate and low degrees of differentiation. Морфологія / Morphologia / Morfologìâ, 17(4), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2023.4.60-73

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Vol. 17 No. 4 (2023)

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