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. 2012:3:285-91.
doi: 10.7150/jca.4537. Epub 2012 Jul 1.

Analysis of pancreatic cancer microenvironment: role of macrophage infiltrates and growth factors expression

Katarzyna Gardian  1 , Sława Janczewska, Waldemar L Olszewski, Marek Durlik
Affiliations

Analysis of pancreatic cancer microenvironment: role of macrophage infiltrates and growth factors expression

Katarzyna Gardian et al. J Cancer. 2012.

Abstract

Background: Research over the last twenty years has yielded much insight into pancreatic cancer biology, but it has neither improved diagnostics methods nor the way of treatment. The question remains as to what the critical deciding factor is in making pancreatic cancer such an aggressive disease.

Methods: Pancreatic tumor tissue came from 36 patients. To assess lymphatic vessels color lymphangiography and immunohistochemistry were used. Activity of matrix metalloproteinases was studied with gel and in situ zymography. Expression of growth factors and infiltrating immune cells were investigated using immunohistochemistry.

Results: Our study revealed that the structures that correspond to lymphatic vessels were not observed in tumor center but only at the edge of the tumor. All studied growth factors were present in tumor tissue. We found that the difference in expression between G2 and G3 stage was statistically relevant in cases of c-Met receptor. Inflammatory cells were present around neoplastic glands and also strongly around nerves infiltrated by cancer cells. The number of infiltrating macrophages in tumor tissue was significantly higher in group with metastases to lymph nodes.

Conclusion: We showed two factors that influence pancreatic cancer progression and invasion: c-Met receptors and macrophages infiltrating tumor tissue. Based on our analysis, this indicates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition might be crucial in the progression of pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: growth factors; lymphangiogenesis; matrix metalloproteinases; microenvironment.; pancreatic cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A,B,C color lymphangiography A. Vein vessels in tumor B. Lymphatic vessels from tumor edge C. Microspaces in tumor tissue filled with fluid. Original magnification: x100 D-I Immunostaining for D. FVIII E. Lyve-1 F. CD31 G. podoplanin H. Flt4 I. VEGF C; Original magnification x200.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Staining for growth factors and their receptors: A. EGF, B. EGFR, C. FGF2, D.FGF7, E.IGF, F. IGFR, G HGFα, H. c-Met, I. PDGF B; original magnification x200
Figure 3
Figure 3
Characterization of the inflammatory infiltrate: A. CD3, B.CD68 macrophages, C.elastase, D. CD56; original magnification x200.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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