Abstract
In the present study, an immunohistochemical investigation of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a specific neural isomer of the widely distributed glycolytic enzyme 2-phospho-D-glycerate hydolase, was carried out in the pancreatic tissue of 41 patients with ductal carcinoma of the pancreas. We also measured nuclear DNA content by means of static cytometry (SCM) using a CAS 200 Image Analysis System (Cell Analysis System, Inc., Lombard, IL.) and evaluated the parameters associated with nuclear DNA content such as the DNA ploidy pattern, DNA index (D. I) and 4c exceeding rate (4c ER) in the pancreatic tissues of 41 patients. Then, we studied the relationship between immunohistochemcal expression of NSE and DNA content of tumor cells in pancreatic cancer.
Immunoreactivity for NSE was observed in 21 of the 41 ductal carcinomas (51.2%), and the incidence of NSE positivity was higher in tubular adenocarcinoma. The DNA index and 4c ER in the NSE positive patients were higher than those in the patients with negative immunoreactivity for NSE (DNA index: 1.80±0.70 vs. 1.58±0.69; 4c ER: 20.40±11.68 vs. 13.17±8.09). The differences in DNA index and 4c ER between these groups suggested that neoplastic cells expressing NSE had a higher malignant potential.
In conclusion, the NSE immunoreactivity of pancreatic ductal carcinoma may directly reflect the malignant potential of neoplastic cells represented by DNA content and may be a useful prognostic parameter.
