RELATION BETWEEN THE EXPRESSION OF NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE AND ARGYROPHILIC NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS IN HUMAN PANCREATIC CARCINOMAS

An immunohistochemical investigation of neuron specific enolase (NSE) which was characterized as a specific neural isomer of the widely dist ributed glycolytic enzyme, 2-phospho-D-glycerate hydolase was carried out in the pancreatic tissues of 41 pancreatectomized patients because of ductal carcinoma of the pancreas. Moreover, a silver staining tech nique for identifying the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (Ag- NOR) was applied to those pancreatic tissues of 41 patients and Ag-NOR count and were calculated by computed imaging analyzer (cell analysis system). Subsequently, the relation between the immunohistochemical e xpression of NSE and Ag-NOR count and area was investigated in the pan creatic tissues of 41 patients. In 41 ductal carcinomas of the pancrea s, positive immunoreactivity of NSE was observed in 21 cases (51.2%). Meanwhile, the mean values of Ag-NOR count and area in the cases with strong positive immunoreactivity of NSE were significantly higher than in those patients with weak positive or negative NSE immunoreactivity : NSE positive immunoreactivity (n=21) was found, positive immunoreact ivity rate and Ag-NOR count and area were correlated with statistical significance. These evidences suggested that neoplastic cells with pos itive immunoreactivity of NSE had higher malignant potential than case s with negative immunoreactivity. In conclusion, immunoreactivity of N SE in ductal carcinoma of the pancreas may reflect directly malignant potential of neoplastic cells thus representing a useful parameter to predict the patient outcome.