Analysis of c-kit protein expression in pancreatic neoplasms and its implication for prognosis.

Background/aims: To evaluate the expression and role of c-kit protein in the neoplasia of pancreatic neoplasms and its relationship to prognosis in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas.

Methodology: The immunohistochemical expression of c-kit protein was studied in normal pancreatic tissues, intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas (IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas (MCN), and IDC of the pancreas. The immunoreactive score (IRS) of c-kit protein expression was examined in normal pancreatic ductal cells, neoplastic cells, and pancreatic endocrine cells.

Results: The IRS values of c-kit protein expression in various neoplastic cells were significantly higher than those in normal ductal cells. No significant difference was seen between IRS values of c-kit protein expression in various pancreatic neoplastic cells of IDC of the pancreas, IPMN and MCN. No significant difference was seen between IRS values of c-kit expression in endocrine cells among various pancreatic tissues. Furthermore, a survival analysis in patients with IDC of the pancreas showed an obvious trend toward decreased survival in patients with c-kit-positive cancer, and c-kit protein expression did not correlate with any clinicopathological factors in IDC of the pancreas.

Conclusions: c-kit protein expression may play an important role in neoplasia of pancreatic neoplasms. In view of the result that c-kit protein expression was found in 8% of IDC of the pancreas, a clinical trial for STI-571 (Glivec) against pancreatic cancer may be warranted for selected pancreatic cancer patients with c-kit protein expression.