EXPRESSION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTOR IN HUMAN PANCREATIC CARCINOMAS

We examined the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and FGF receptor by immunohistochemistry in 32 human pancreatic ductal ad enocarcinomas. Mild to marked basic FGF immunoreactivity was noted in 19 (59.4%) of the 32 tumours examined, and 30 (93.3%) of the tumours e xhibited a cytoplasmic staining pattern against FGF receptor. The rumo urs were divided into two groups according to the proportion of positi vely stained tumour cells: a low expression group (positive cells <25% ) and a high expression group (positive cells greater than or equal to 25%). No statistically significant difference in tumour size, differe ntiation, metastases or stage was found between the low and high basic FGF expression groups. However, a significant correlation was found b etween FGF receptor expression level and the presence of retroperitone al invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumour stage. In addition, low FGF receptor expression was significantly associated with a longer po st-operative survival as compared with high FGF receptor expression, w hereas there was no significant difference in post-operative survival between the low and high basic FGF expression groups. Increased expres sion of FGF receptor is correlated with the extent of malignancy and p ost-operative survival in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Thu s, overexpression of FGF receptor may prove to be a more useful progno stic marker than basic FGF expression level in pancreatic cancer patie nts.