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Ultrastructural study of the mechanism of perineural extension in pancreatic cancer

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Abstract

Nerve invasion is one of the biological features of pancreatic cancer, and its mechanism remains to be determined. In this paper, we report on 37 pancreatic cancer specimens observed by immunohistochemical and electron microscopical techniques. The results showed that pancreatic cancer directly invaded and destroyed the perineurium. At the early stage of disease, the peripheral nerve and synaptic membrane were easily destroyed by cancer cells, and invasion and metastasis continuously advanced along the perineural space and central side of nerves. These results suggest that the soft tissue and nerve plexus on the dorsal region of the pancreas may contribute to the recurrence of pancreatic cancer after duodenopancreatectomy.

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Correspondence to Goro Asano.

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Dang, C., Takashi, E., Guo, F. et al. Ultrastructural study of the mechanism of perineural extension in pancreatic cancer. Med Electron Microsc 31, 31–37 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547946

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547946

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