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Clinical Significance of Ephrin (Eph)-A1, -A2, -A4, -A5 and -A7 Receptors in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Ephrin (Eph) receptors have been reported to be frequently overexpressed in a wide variety of cancer types, being associated with tumor growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of Eph-A1, -A2, -A4, -A5 and -A7 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eph-A1, -A2, -A4, -A5 and -A7 expression and staining intensity were assessed immunohistochemically in tumoral samples of 67 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients and were statistically analyzed in relation to clinicopathological characteristics, tumor proliferative capacity and patients’ survival. Eph receptors were abundantly expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases examined. Eph-A1 staining intensity was significantly associated with tumor size (pT, p = 0.008) and tumor histopathological stage (pStage, p = 0.012). Eph-A2 expression was significantly associated with patients’ age (p = 0.007), while Eph-A4 and Eph-A5 with tumor proliferative capacity (p = 0.019 and p = 0.011, respectively). Pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients with moderate/intense Eph-A5 or Eph-A7 staining presented significantly shorter survival times compared to those with negative/mild one (log-rank test, p = 0.024 and p = 0.009, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified Eph-A5 and Eph-A7 staining intensity as independent prognostic factors (p = 0.048 and p = 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, the present study revealed that Eph receptors were associated with pancreatic cancer characteristics, supporting evidence for their potential clinical application in management and prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical School, University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias str., Athens, 11527, Greece

    Constantinos Giaginis, Elli Chatzopoulou, Konstantina Dimakopoulou & Stamatios E. Theocharis

  2. Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laikon Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, 17, Agiou Thoma str., Athens, 11527, Greece

    Constantinos Giaginis, Gerasimos Tsourouflis & Gregorios Kouraklis

  3. Department of Pathology, Tzaneio General Hospital, Zanni & Afentouli str., Piraeus, 18536, Greece

    Adamantia Zizi-Serbetzoglou

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  1. Constantinos Giaginis
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  2. Gerasimos Tsourouflis
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Correspondence to Stamatios E. Theocharis.

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Giaginis, C., Tsourouflis, G., Zizi-Serbetzoglou, A. et al. Clinical Significance of Ephrin (Eph)-A1, -A2, -A4, -A5 and -A7 Receptors in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 16, 267–276 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9221-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9221-6

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