Differential expressions of cyclin D1 associated with better prognosis of cancers of ampulla of Vater.

Background: Periampullary cancers, the incidence of which increases gradually with industrialization, still pose a significant challenge to clinicians and researchers. Specifically, the role of cell-cycle proteins and tumor suppressor genes in these cancers is not yet clear. Recent studies have revealed that genes and proteins related to cell cycle and apoptosis regulation may be involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from patients with periampullary cancers who underwent surgery at the National Taiwan University Hospital without receiving previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy. All periampullary cancer tissue samples were examined by a pathologist, who was unaware of the parameters to be investigated. A total of 68 patients with periampullary cancers (29 ampulla of Vater cancers (AVCs) and 39 pancreatic ductal cancers (PDCs), including various stages and histological subtypes, were enrolled. The relevant demographic and clinicopathological information was obtained from medical records.

Results: Cell-cycle proteins, including p16, Rb, cyclin D1, p53, and E2F1, were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Here, significant differences were noted between AVCs and PDCs with regard to the expression of cyclin D1. This corresponded to a poor prognosis in PDCs (P < 0.05); AVCs, on the other hand, showed a relatively high survival rate. There is no obvious statistical difference between the 2 groups with regard to the expression of p16, Rb, p53, and E2F1. The study also revealed that cyclin D1 plays different roles in the carcinogenesis of AVCs and PDCs.

Conclusions: The expression of cyclin D1 is more often correlated with prognosis in AVCs than in PDCs, and may serve as a biomarker for the disease.