Differential expression of human spasmolytic polypeptide (trefoil factor family-2) in pancreatic carcinomas, ampullary carcinomas, and mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas

DHuman spasmolytic polypeptide (hSP) is a member of the trefoil peptide gro up, thought to be involved in mucin production and cell growth. It has been reported that hSP protein is expressed in digestive cancers but not in nor mal pancreas. The expression of hSP in pancreatic neoplasms has not been in vestigated in detail. The immunohistochemical expression of hSP protein was investigated in pancreatic carcinomas, ampullary carcinomas, mucin-produci ng tumors, serous cystadenomas and islet cell tumors of the pancreas. hSP w as expressed in 23% of pancreatic duct cell carcinomas, and hSP protein was more frequently detected in cases of early-stage or histologically low-gra de duct cell carcinomas than in cases of late-stage or histologically high- grade carcinomas. Patients with hSP protein expression showed a better prog nosis than did those with negative hSP expression. hSP expression was detec ted in 92% of mucin-producing tumors, but was not detected in serous cystad enoma or islet cell tumors. Immunohistochemical hSP expression is related t o differentiation and a better prognosis in pancreatic duct cell carcinomas . Furthermore, hSP protein is related to the pathogenesis and clinical char acteristics of mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas.